Cessna 425 accident near Bethany, Oklahoma, August 25, 2019
On August 25, 2019 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna 425, registered N300GD, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bethany, Oklahoma (Wiley Post airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control during the initial climb for undetermined reasons, which resulted in an aborted takeoff and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 25, 2019 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bethany, Oklahoma · Wiley Post · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 425 No Series, built 1980 · all 425s on the register
- Registration
- N300GD · registry record · serial 425-0074
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was departing on a local flight to test a repaired autopilot. Just after takeoff, the airplane began to yaw to the left and right, and the pilot determined that directional control was not possible. The pilot decided to abort the takeoff, reduced the power to idle, and landed gear-up on the remaining runway. The airplane slid off the end of the runway onto a concrete pad, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Examination of the flight controls and throttle quadrant controls did not reveal any anomalies. The reason for the yaw and loss of directional control after takeoff could not be determined.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,300 hours in all; 1,150 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 27, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,014 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 6, 2018
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Downing Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Bethany OK at 7:55 pm
- Destination: PWA Bethany OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17L, 7,199 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PWA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN19LA300.