Oregon Pilot Steven Charlton Intentionally Crashed Plane Near Bend

On August 4, 2026, 48‑year‑old pilot Steven Nicholas Charlton of Bend, Oregon, deliberately crashed his Cirrus SR22T aircraft in a remote, heavily forested area west of the city. The flight lasted about five hours after departing Bend Municipal Airport at 1:30 p.m., and Charlton was the sole occupant; he died at the crash site. No other injuries or property damage were reported.

The incident prompted a coordinated response from multiple agencies, including the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration, Bend Fire & Rescue, and the Central Oregon Irrigation District, with the FBI also contacting an Air Force base in Klamath Falls. Access to the crash site remains restricted while hazards are addressed. The aircraft was registered to So Fly Aviation LLC of Eugene. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have begun on‑site investigations and are seeking witnesses.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive for the intentional act.