The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday that detectives determined a pilot intentionally brought a Cirrus SR22T down in a remote area west of Bend, Oregon, at 6:46 p.m. Aug. 4. The pilot, 48-year-old Steven Nicholas Charlton of Bend, sustained fatal injuries. No other injuries or property damage were reported.
Flight History
Charlton departed Bend Municipal Airport at approximately 1:30 p.m. The airplane remained airborne for more than five hours and circled over a heavily forested area before the impact.
“During the flight, law enforcement agencies attempted to make contact, but Charlton wished only to speak with his family,” the sheriff’s office said. “Due to uncertainty surrounding the situation, multiple agencies coordinated a comprehensive precautionary response to ensure public safety.”
Investigation
The response included the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, FBI, FAA, Bend Fire & Rescue, Central Oregon Irrigation District and the sheriff’s office. The FBI also contacted an Air Force installation in Klamath Falls. The sheriff’s office restricted access to the site because hazards remained in the area. The airplane was registered to So Fly Aviation LLC of Eugene, Oregon.
“The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will be on site today to begin their investigation,” the sheriff’s office said Wednesday. “The NTSB is requesting information from anyone who witnessed the flight or the crash, or who may have spoken with or seen Charlton at the Bend Airport.”
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