- Date
- September 17, 1988, 23:02 local (Sep 18, 1988, 04:02 UTC)
- Place
- Okmulgee, OK
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N47806Piper PA-28R-201T
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report January 16, 1990
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19880917045409A
- Case key
- 22564
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Non-instrument rated pilot's intentional flight into an area of adverse weather associated with thunderstorms, heavy precipitation, and turbulence. The pilot experienced vertigo and lost control of the aircraft. The aircraft then sustained an infight breakup at a high altitude.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The non-instrument rated plt contd VFR flt at night into an area that wx briefers & ATC controllers had warned of thunderstorms, heavy precipation & possible tornado activity. Subsequently, he requested 'a little guidance' & said he was having trouble 'holding a position' & was 'running on a . . . Magnetic compass.' Subsequently, the acft entered a steep descent, then radio & radar contact were lost. The acft broke up in flt at an unknown alt & wreckage was scattered over a 3 mi area. An exam of the wreckage revealed the rgt wing had failed under positive loads (upward) &the the left horizontal stabilizer spar was bent downward. The rgt horizontal stabilizer separated & was not found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N47806
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28R-7803017
- Airframe hours
- 1,447
- Engine
- Continental TSIO-360-F, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Richard Smith Enterprises
- Registered owner
- Richard Smith Enterprises
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 5, 1988 · 87 hours before
- Departed
- JAN · Jackson, MI
- Destination
- PWA · Oklahoma City, OK
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 180° at 11 knots
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TUL, 40 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.