Piper PA-28-140 accident near Ponca City, Oklahoma, December 4, 2010
On December 4, 2010 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N8320R, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Ponca City, Oklahoma (Ponca City Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's loss of control during landing for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 4, 2010 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Ponca City, Oklahoma · Ponca City Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8320R · no longer on the register · serial 28-22191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness reported that the airplane rolled inverted on final approach and then impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the accident site and airplane revealed the airplane bounced several times during landing and the left wing struck the ground, separating it from the fuselage. The airplane became inverted, skidded across the grass median and taxiway, and collided with a chain link fence. Recorded wind at the time of the accident were aligned with the runway heading at 12 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
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 landing defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Effect on equipment
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 133 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 23, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: serious injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 25 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Crew member
No details recorded.
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,514 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 2010; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H45 Seminole OK at 5:15 pm
- Destination: PNC Ponca City OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 7,201 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from PNC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.