Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, September 5, 2009
On September 5, 2009 at about 3:42 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N1228H, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-instrument-rated pilot’s decision to attempt flight in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and an in-flight collision with a radio tower guy wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2009 · about 3:42 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N1228H · registry record · serial 32R-7780146
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-instrument-rated private pilot obtained a standard weather briefing for a cross-country flight and was advised that a visual flight rules (VFR) flight was not recommended. The ceiling was 600 feet overcast with 4 miles visibility. Approximately 4 hours later, the pilot radioed ground control for taxi and a VFR clearance. The controller informed the pilot that the airport was in instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions. The pilot then requested and received an IFR clearance. The pilot departed and had to be reminded by the local and departure controllers to make several course and altitude changes. The pilot acknowledged the changes but took no action. The pilot was also warned of antennas near his position. Review of radar data revealed the pilot's altitude varied from 1,100 feet mean sea level (msl) to 1,600 feet (msl). The last radar target was at 1,200 feet msl in a left descending turn although the pilot had been instructed to climb to 4,000 feet 2 minutes before the accident. During periods of low visibility, a pilot is particularly vulnerable to spatial disorientation. Further, the pilot's descending turn when he was supposed to be climbing is indicative of spatial disorientation. The airplane then collided with a guy wire on a 600-foot radio transmission tower at a terrain elevation of 860 feet msl. Postaccident examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly, and accessories revealed no anomalies. The altimeter, transponder, and transponder automatic altitude reporting system test was current. The gyroscopic instruments were destroyed and could not be examined.
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
- Preflight or dispatch event during prior to flight
- Other weather encounter during initial climb
- Altitude deviation during initial climb
- Controlled flight into terrain or object (CFIT) during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low ceiling › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusio › Spatial disorientation › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 353 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,843 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 29, 2008; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TI0-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KRVS Tulsa OK at 3:37 pm
- Destination: KDAL Dallas TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from RVS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.