Amateur-built GLASAIR SU accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, March 9, 2009
On March 9, 2009 at about 5:47 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR SU, registered N47NR, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Richard Lloyd Jones Jr Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2009 · about 5:47 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Richard Lloyd Jones Jr Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR SU
- Registration
- N47NR · no longer on the register · serial 2282
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airline transport pilot had not flown since 2001 and had recently purchased the airplane. He hired the certified flight instructor to provide instruction in his new airplane and to also prepare him for a flight review. The pilot said that he flew well and the flight was uneventful until his first landing attempt. He said he flared too soon, which caused the airspeed to dissipate. The instructor told him to add power, but the rate of descent was too great and the airplane landed hard on the left side of the runway and slid into an area of dry grass. A post-impact fire consumed the airplane. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane or engine prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,123 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 19, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,948 hours in all; 10 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 23, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,694 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 5, 2008
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: White Buffalo Environmental, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: RVS Tulsa OK at 4:45 pm
- Destination: RVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 5,102 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 5:40 pm from RVS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.