Portland Intl — Safety History & Runway Risks
NTSB accident analysis for KPDX: 7 events analyzed
Portland, OR · 30.8 ft MSL · 3 runways
Based on 7 NTSB events at KPDX (Portland Intl), the most important risks for pilots are:
- IMC approach below minimums. The sole fatality in this dataset (February 2008) involved a Lancair LC41 pilot who failed to execute the missed approach procedure in fog with visibility of 0.25 SM and a 100-ft ceiling — well below landing minimums. Portland's maritime climate produces frequent low-IFR conditions, especially in winter mornings.
- Landing gear mechanical failures. Three of the seven events involved landing gear problems: a nose gear collapse during takeoff roll on a Beech 58 (Feb 2010, fatigue bolt failure), a Piper PA-31-350 landing with right main retracted due to a missing maintenance bolt (Mar 2008), and a G-V event in 2025 with minor damage post-landing. Maintenance quality and pre-takeoff gear checks are implicated in at least two cases.
- Ground vehicle conflicts during night/low-visibility taxi. A Piper PA-31-350 on taxiway Echo 4 was struck by a fuel truck in November 2015 during dark, rainy conditions. The probable cause was the fuel truck driver's failure to see and avoid the aircraft. Ground situational awareness and communication with Ground Control are critical after landing at night.
Source: NTSB accident records analyzed by Tropiq. Updated 4/14/2026.
Safety History
7 eventsKPDX has recorded 7 NTSB events between 2008 and 2025, with no fatalities since a 2008 fatal IMC/fog approach accident and only one event in the past five years. The incident mix spans gear failures, ground vehicle conflicts during taxi, and one fuel exhaustion off-airport — suggesting risk is distributed across ground operations, maintenance lapses, and instrument approach discipline rather than concentrated in a single threat area. Activity has been low and declining, but the historical fatal accident serves as a strong reminder that IMC approach discipline remains the highest-consequence risk at this airport.
Seven events over 17 years reflects a relatively low absolute event count for a Class C airport serving commercial and GA traffic, with clustering in 2008 and 2010. The single fatality occurred in 2008 and all subsequent events resulted in no deaths or serious injuries.
- •Six of seven events occurred between 2008 and 2015; the airport has been substantially quieter since
- •Piper PA-31-350 appears in three separate events (2008 x2, 2015), all operated commercially under Part 135 — suggesting operator-specific rather than airport-specific risk
- •All events involved either VMC or IMC but the only fatal event was in IMC with 0.25 SM visibility and 100-ft ceiling
- •Night operations were a factor in two events (Oct 2010 engine failure departure, Nov 2015 taxi ground conflict)
- •No runway incursions or ATC-related conflicts are documented in this dataset
- •Gear-related failures account for at least two of seven events and contributed to substantial damage in both cases
Runway Analysis
Key Risks
Common Causes
Seasonal Patterns
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database. Analysis generated 2026-04-14. This data is provided for flight planning awareness and does not replace official safety briefings.
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