Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Goldsby, Oklahoma, August 29, 2012
On August 29, 2012 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N7602C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Goldsby, Oklahoma (David Jay Perry 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 commercial pilot did not attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, which resulted in a premature touchdown and an impact with the edge of the runway surface.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2012 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Goldsby, Oklahoma · David Jay Perry Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N7602C · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635103
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was taking a practical test to become a flight instructor and was demonstrating a simulated short field landing over a simulated 50-foot obstacle. The commercial pilot reported that he had planned to touch down on or within 100 feet past the numbers painted on the runway. The painted numbers were 60 feet long and about 18 feet from the approach end of the runway. The airplane touched down short of the intended landing spot, and the right main landing gear struck the edge of the runway surface, causing a loud “bang” that both the commercial pilot and the pilot examiner reported hearing. A postflight examination showed that the hard landing caused substantial damage to the right wing when three wing ribs separated from the spar web and partially penetrated through the upper skin. The commercial pilot added that the accident could have been avoided if he had picked a touchdown spot further away from the approach end of the runway.
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
- Landing area undershoot during landing defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 253 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,995 hours in all; 483 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 7,705 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 18, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,789 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of Oklahoma
The flight
- Departed from: OUN Norman OK at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 1K4 Goldsby OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 3,006 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KOUN, 5 miles away
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.