# Accident 19981011028729A: Cessna 172M, Oklahoma City, OK, October 11, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 11, 1998, 11:25 local time
- Place: Oklahoma City, OK
- Airport: Wiley Post Airport
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.6201° N, 97.6505° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6201&lon=-97.6505&mi=10
- Aircraft: N172JF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N172JF-2001-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 172M (registry code 2072418, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Reported engine: LYC O320E2D
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 147 total, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW99FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99FA006) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981011028729A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE ROLL INTO A STEEP BANK AND DESCEND VERTICALLY INTO THE GROUND. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE PREVENTED NORMAL OPERATION.  THE OPERATOR OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF AT A HIGH SPEED. HE CALLED THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AND REQUESTED THAT THE CONTROLLER RELAY A MESSAGE TO THE PILOT TO RETURN TO THE RAMP.  THE AIRPLANE HAD TAKEN OFF BY THE TIME THE MESSAGE WAS RELAYED.  ALTHOUGH THE PILOT ACKNOWLEDGED RECEIVING THE MESSAGE, RADAR DATA INDICATED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT TURN BACK TOWARD THE AIRPORT, BUT CONTINUED TOWARD THE ACCIDENT SITE.  THE SITE WAS LOCATED ADJACENT TO A CHURCH WHERE A FRIEND OF THE PILOT WAS ATTENDING SERVICES.  THE FRIEND HAD REPORTEDLY DECLINED A MARRIAGE PROPOSAL FROM THE PILOT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.  THE MEDICAL EXAMINER CLASSIFIED THE PILOT'S DEATH AS A SUICIDE.  TOXICOLOGICAL TESTING DETECTED 0.028 UG/ML DIAZEPAM (VALIUM) IN KIDNEY TISSUE, 0.077 UG/ML DIAZEPAM IN LIVER TISSUE, 0.134 NORDIAZEPAM (METABOLITE OF DIAZEPAM) IN LIVER TISSUE, AND 0.069 UG/ML NORDIAZEPAM IN KIDNEY TISSUE.  THE FAA DOES NOT APPROVE THE USE OF DIAZEPAM BY PILOTS.      (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WILEY POST AIRPORT (PWA) AT APPROXIMATELY 1115 HOURS AND FLEW TO THE CHURCH OF THE SERVANT IN NORTH OKLAHOMA CITY, WHERE HE MADE AN EXTREME BANKING LEFT TURN NEAR OR OVER THE CHURCH STARTING AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET, AND DESCENDING INTO THE GROUND WEST OF THE CHURCH PARKING LOT.WITNESSES INDICATE THAT THE PILOT HAD MADE PREVIOUS FLIGHTS OVER THE CHURCH, WHERE HIS GIRLFRIEND ATTENDED A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW99FA006](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW99FA006), Oct 11, 1998: Cessna 172M (N172JF), Oklahoma City, OK, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: Suicide.

## Other reports on N172JF (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19961005030929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961005030929A), Oct 5, 1996: Cessna 172M (N172JF), Tuttle, OK, Substantial damage. Rough engine landed sod strip. Checked out. Veered off alignment on takeoff into trees. Full flaps early liftoff. (-23) pilot stated he took off for a pleasure…
- [Incident 19930722030969I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930722030969I), Jul 22, 1993: Cessna 172M (N172JF), Shawnee, OK, Minor damage. Pilot made a hard landing. Damaged nose gear and tire.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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