From an Aviation 24/7 FB Post:
TRAGIC UPDATE: AVIATION ACCIDENT NEAR BEND, OREGON
A somber and complex aviation story is unfolding out of Deschutes County, Oregon, following a fatal crash involving a Cirrus SR22T N625LK.
The aircraft departed Bend Municipal Airport at 1:34 PM on Tuesday and remained aloft for over five hours before going down shortly after 6:00 PM.
Location: Near Bull Creek / Bull Flat, west of Tumalo and north of the Upper Tumalo Reservoir.
Law enforcement and NTSB officials confirmed that the sole-occupant pilot tragically perished upon a high-speed impact with the ground. The severe impact did not result in a post-crash fire.
Court records have revealed heavy underlying circumstances surrounding the flight. Hours prior to the incident, the pilot - identified as 48-year-old Steven Nicholas Charlton of Bend - was facing severe legal developments:
The Charges: Charlton was initially arraigned on July 30th on a count of first-degree invasion of personal privacy (Class C felony under Oregon law).
The Indictment: A Deschutes County grand jury returned an updated five-count indictment on August 4th, detailing allegations involving two separate victims between June and September 2025.
Scheduled Appearance: Charlton had been conditionally released following a security deposit and was scheduled to appear for his arraignment on the five-count indictment on Thursday, August 6th.
Local emergency responders, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the remote site immediately. An NTSB investigator has taken charge of the wreckage to examine the aircraft's onboard data and sequence of events.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected by this difficult situation.
Fly safe
Flightaware Track
A somber and complex aviation story is unfolding out of Deschutes County, Oregon, following a fatal crash involving a Cirrus SR22T N625LK.
The aircraft departed Bend Municipal Airport at 1:34 PM on Tuesday and remained aloft for over five hours before going down shortly after 6:00 PM.
Location: Near Bull Creek / Bull Flat, west of Tumalo and north of the Upper Tumalo Reservoir.
Law enforcement and NTSB officials confirmed that the sole-occupant pilot tragically perished upon a high-speed impact with the ground. The severe impact did not result in a post-crash fire.
Court records have revealed heavy underlying circumstances surrounding the flight. Hours prior to the incident, the pilot - identified as 48-year-old Steven Nicholas Charlton of Bend - was facing severe legal developments:
The Charges: Charlton was initially arraigned on July 30th on a count of first-degree invasion of personal privacy (Class C felony under Oregon law).
The Indictment: A Deschutes County grand jury returned an updated five-count indictment on August 4th, detailing allegations involving two separate victims between June and September 2025.
Scheduled Appearance: Charlton had been conditionally released following a security deposit and was scheduled to appear for his arraignment on the five-count indictment on Thursday, August 6th.
Local emergency responders, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the remote site immediately. An NTSB investigator has taken charge of the wreckage to examine the aircraft's onboard data and sequence of events.
Our thoughts go out to all those affected by this difficult situation.
Fly safe
Flightaware Track
