Cirrus SR22T GTS G7 Platinum, N625LK, fatal "accident" occurred on August 4, 2026, near Bend, Oregon

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this writing will be corrected when/if the NTSB preliminary report is released.

https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=N625LK

- History of Flight:
On August 4, 2026, at about 1846 local time, a Cirrus SR22T GTS G7 Platinum, N625LK, registered to So Fly Aviation LLC out of Eugene, OR, was destroyed when it intentionally impacted terrain near Bend, Oregon. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated from Bend Municipal Airport (BDN/KBDN), Bend, Oregon, at 1334, and was destined to the unknown.

Preliminary ADS-B data shows that the airplane departed Bend and entered a climb to an inflight cruising altitude of 10,800 ft. The airplane initially flew west, then proceeded to the north and so on. The first two hours and thirty minutes of the flight involved erratic altitude and heading changes with multiple loops and turns. Starting from ~1400, the airplane began a series of repeated orbits over a small radius at an altitude of 5,000 ft at the estimated cords of 44.089811,-121.447936 (rugged inhabited terrain west of Bend). The airplane continued doing this until it impacted rugged terrain at the end of the track (see figures).

Figure 1: Entire Flightaware track

Figure 2: A snippet of the looping orbits that started at 1400 LT until end of track

According to the local sheriff department, the pilot did not speak to officials and only demanded to speak to his family. As a result, multiple agencies, including: the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, the FBI, FAA, Bend Fire & Rescue, Central Oregon Irrigation District, and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office were involved. The FBI contacted the nearby Air Force base in Klamath Falls, Oregon.

First responders were already around the scene of the accident site and responded immediately.

The NTSB is requesting information from anyone who witnessed the flight or the crash, or who may have spoken with or seen the pilot at BDN.

The pilot, aged 48, held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single engine and multiengine land ratings and an instrument rating. His second class FAA medical was issued on May 2026 with a note that he must use corrective lens(es) to meet vision standards at all required distances. The pilot also held a flight instructor certificate with an airplane single and multi engine rating and an instrument rating.

According to court records, the pilot was facing five felony counts of first-degree invasion of personal privacy and was indicted on the day of the accident. His arraignment on the indictment was scheduled for August 6th.

According to records, the charges stemmed from the pilot knowingly and without consent making visual recordings of people who were nude and had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Counts one and two involve one alleged victim. Counts three through five involve a second alleged victim. (see additional info section)

The accident aircraft, serial number 10416, was manufactured in 2025.

The airplane impacted rugged terrain and came to rest inverted. There was no post crash fire. Both wings were impact damaged and separated from the airframe. The main cabin area was destroyed. The impact appears consistent with a nose down, high speed impact.

- Weather:

METAR KLMT 050053Z 33006KT 10SM CLR 33/M01 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP105 T03331006

METAR KLMT 050153Z 34012KT 10SM CLR 32/M01 A2997 RMK AO2 SLP104 T03221006

- Additional Information:

According to ORS 163.701

Invasion of personal privacy in the first degree:

Except as provided in ORS 163.702 (Exceptions to ORS 163.700 and 163.701), a person commits the crime of invasion of personal privacy in the first degree if:

(A) The person knowingly makes or records a photograph, motion picture, videotape or other visual recording of another person in a state of nudity without the consent of the other person; and

(B) At the time the visual recording is made or recorded the person being recorded is in a place and circumstances where the person has a reasonable expectation of personal privacy; or

(b) The person violates ORS 163.700 (Invasion of personal privacy in the second degree) and, at the time of the offense, has a prior conviction for:

(A) Invasion of personal privacy in any degree, public indecency, private indecency or a sex crime as defined in ORS 163A.005 (Definitions for ORS 163A.005 to 163A.235); or

(B) The statutory counterpart of an offense described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph in another jurisdiction.

....

(a) Invasion of personal privacy in the first degree is a Class C felony.

(b) The Oregon Criminal Justice Commission shall classify invasion of personal privacy in the first degree as crime category 6 of the sentencing guidelines grid of the commission.

(3) The court may designate invasion of personal privacy in the first degree as a sex crime under ORS 163A.005 (Definitions for ORS 163A.005 to 163A.235) if the court finds that the circumstances of the offense require the defendant to register and report as a sex offender for the safety of the community. [2015 c.645 §2]

...

Each Class C felony carries a statutory maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $125,000, although any sentence would depend on a conviction, state sentencing guidelines, criminal history, and other factors. The offense does not automatically require sex-offender registration, but state law allows a court to designate it as a sex crime if the court finds registration is necessary for community safety.

An indictment is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt. The pilot had not entered a plea to the five-count indictment, and the allegations had not been adjudicated before the crash.