Mt. Hood Skibowl, OR, Appeals OSHA Citations over Fatal Lift Incident in April 2026

Mt. Hood Skibowl, Oregon, has formally appealed two workplace safety citations delivered by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OR-OSHA) on July 16, 2026. The state’s enforcement action carries $43,180 in total proposed penalties following the release of a 1,703-page case file documenting an April 30 chairlift maintenance accident. State investigators concluded that specific operational omissions directly caused the carriage failure, resulting in one fatality and severe injuries to a second worker.

According to a review of the state file by KGW8, the accident involved a CH-61D engineered work carrier manufactured by Superior Tramway Co. The resort integrated the unit into its maintenance operations in August 2025. The specialized equipment is essentially a two-level metal scaffold that clamps onto the lift’s haul rope using a standard chair grip. Manufacturer documentation explicitly specified that personnel occupy only the lower platform while the lift is in motion and restricted its use to cable inclines below a 35-degree horizontal angle.

• Related: One Dead, One Injured After Chairlift Accident at Mt. Hood Skibowl, OR

KGW8‘s coverage details how the carriage dislodged on a steep section of the Upper Bowl Chair Lift near Tower 2/3. At the time of impact, workers were riding on both decks along a stretch where the cable incline exceeded the 35-degree limit. This off-balance position caused the carrier to strike a heavy metal tower guide at full speed, stripping its grip from the line. It plummeted 30 feet to the mountain floor before rolling 105 feet downhill. The impact killed 29-year-old technician Gregory Hunter and left his coworker, 23-year-old Evan Parsons, with life-threatening injuries.

OR-OSHA assessed an additional $2,915 penalty because the resort’s safety committee had remained inactive since January 29. This in turn left off-season crews without a formal channel to address workplace hazards. State regulatory filings indicate that on July 17—one day after the citations were served—Skibowl immediately revised its internal protocols, retrained maintenance personnel, and convened the safety committee. However, on July 21, the resort’s legal counsel submitted a formal appeal contesting the validity of all citations.

• Related: Family & Friends of Maintenance Worker Injured in Chairlift Accident at Mt. Hood Skibowl, OR, Launch Fundraiser

In an emailed statement published in The Oregonian, Mt. Hood Skibowl’s Vice President and General Manager, Mike Quinn, emphasized the human weight of the event. Quinn stated that “the accident on April 30, 2026 was truly tragic” and extended the company’s “deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Greg Hunter.” While openly expressing sympathies to the employee and their loved ones, Quinn noted that current public reporting does not represent all material facts. He emphasized that the resort disagrees with numerous representations laid out in the OSHA file. Citing the active litigation, management declined to discuss specific technical findings as the case moves forward.