Cessna 182T accident near Stigler, Oklahoma, April 9, 2009
On April 9, 2009 at about 9:15 pm local time, a Cessna 182T, registered N1491D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Stigler, Oklahoma (Private Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of directional control during takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to take off with 40-degrees of flaps and with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 9, 2009 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Stigler, Oklahoma · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N1491D · no longer on the register · serial 18281903
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
With winds gusting from the southeast, the private pilot elected to depart to the north from a private grass strip. During the takeoff sequence, the airplane drifted to the west of the grass strip and the airplane impacted terrain in a crab. The airplane rolled and came to rest in the inverted position. The airplane's airbag system did not deploy. No pre-impact anomalies were detected with the airframe or engine. The airbag system was tested and found to be within system tolerances. The takeoff flap setting of 40-degrees, which is not recommended by the airplane manufacturer, allowed the airplane to become airborne prior to reaching an airspeed which would allow for maximum effectiveness of the control surfaces.
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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 151 hours in all; 115 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 115 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 222.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 25, 2008; 169.9 hours since
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Stiger OK at 9:15 pm
- Destination: ADM Ardmore Muni OK
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.45 inHg
- Observation at 9:10 pm from JSV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1491D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.