Oregon Pilot Intentionally Crashed Private Plane West of Bend

Detectives say the deliberate descent triggered a multiagency probe into safety and possible links to the pilot’s same-day criminal indictment.

Overview

The aircraft left Bend Municipal Airport at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, circled a heavily forested area for just over five hours, and struck the ground west of Bend at 6:46 p.m.
Detectives identified the sole occupant as 48-year-old Steven Nicholas Charlton and concluded he intentionally brought the Cirrus SR22T down, killing himself and causing no reported injuries or ground damage.
Law enforcement tried to contact the pilot while the plane circled; officials say Charlton told officers he wanted to speak only with family and authorities responded with a coordinated precautionary effort.
Federal and local agencies, including the FAA and NTSB, are on site beginning the aviation investigation, the NTSB is requesting witnesses, and access to the crash area remains restricted for safety.
Charlton had been indicted earlier the same day on five felony counts of first-degree invasion of privacy and investigators are examining his communications, movements, and the aircraft (2025 Cirrus SR22T, N625LK) as they seek motive and context.