Caught on camera: Dramatic video of small plane crashing during high wind landing at Sunriver Airport; pilot unharmed

(Update: Police update information on how the plane overturned when it was hit by a gust of wind)

SUNRIVER, Ore. (KTVZ) — The pilot of a nearly 70-year-old small plane was uninjured when the plane flipped over and landed on its nose during a difficult windy landing at Sunriver Airport Saturday afternoon.

The 1957 Piper Pa-22-150 single-engine plane, built in 1957, was on a normal approach to the resort airport around 1:35 p.m. when it “crashed while landing on Runway 18 at the airport,” Sunriver police spokeswoman Katie Warren said.

“The aircraft had landed on the runway and was moving with all three wheels on the ground when a strong gust of wind pushed the left wing of the aircraft at an angle that caused it to contact the runway,” Warren said.

“The nose and propeller of the aircraft then also struck the runway. The sole occupant, the pilot, was able to exit the aircraft and is believed to be unharmed,” she added.

Gusts of wind could be heard on video of the landing taken by Daniel Simcoe, which showed everything was apparently going well until the plane veered, rolled over and came to rest on its nose on the runway.

Jim Bennett, public information officer for the Sunriver Fire Department, said, “Other than the damage to the aircraft and very minor damage to the runway, there were no reports of other damage, near misses or injuries. No significant fuel leaks.”

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified and authorities were given permission to remove the plane so the runway could be reopened.

FAA records identified the registered owner of the single-engine plane as Tri-Pacer One LLC in Hillsboro. Its most recent certification was in 2020 and expires in June 2027.