Piper PA-32-301T accident near Kingfisher, Oklahoma, January 16, 2023
On January 16, 2023 at about 6:42 pm local time, a 1980 Piper PA-32-301T, registered N8266D, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Kingfisher, Oklahoma. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An oil leak of undetermined origin that resulted in an in-flight engine compartment fire and subsequent loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 16, 2023 · about 6:42 pm local time
- Place
- Kingfisher, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301T, built 1980 · all PA-32-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8266D · registry record · serial 32-8024049
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructional flight was to familiarize the pilot with newly installed avionics. Recorded flight and engine monitor data showed the airplane departed the airport and was maneuvering when the data ended about 28 minutes after departure. Witness video showed the airplane with a trail of thick black smoke before its impact with the ground. Engine monitor data showed that the engine’s operational parameters were normal until about 2 minutes before the end of the flight, when the oil pressure dropped to zero. Shortly after, several recorded parameters went offline. The recorded outside air temperature increased from about 10° C to over 800° C before the end of the data. Debris found on the engine’s oil suction screen was consistent with the material for a magneto drive cushion that was found within the oil sump. No other anomalies were found with respect to the engine. Oil streaking opposite the direction of flight on the airplane’s horizontal stabilator was consistent with a significant oil leak. No other anomalies with respect to the airplane were discovered; however, the amount of impact and fire damage to the airplane impeded comprehensive examination. The witness video, oil streaking, and engine monitor data were all consistent with an engine compartment fire due to an oil leak. The extent of the impact and fire damage precluded determination of the exact source of the oil leak. Although toxicology testing of specimens from the flight instructor revealed several drugs that are not approved for pilot use, or that are generally used for disqualifying conditions, the nature of the accident and the presence of an additional qualified pilot in the cockpit suggests that the flight instructor’s use of these drugs had no bearing on the outcome of the accident flight.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during maneuvering defining event
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Eng oil sys (airframe furnish) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Attain/maintain not possible
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, remote
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,535.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 2023; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Engineers Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Oklahoma City OK at 12:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.64 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from KGOK, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGOK 161853Z AUTO 27007KT 10SM CLR 15/01 A2964 RMK AO2 SLP034 T01500006=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
17 documents, released by the NTSB on February 5, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Attachment 1 to Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | data file · our copy | Download |
| 3 | Aircraft Examination Summary | PDF, 13 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Engine Examination Summary | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Airframe Maintenance Records | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Maintenance Records | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Propeller Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | ADS-B Data (Csv File) | data file · our copy | Download |
| 9 | ADS-B Data (Kmz File) | map file · our copy | Download |
| 10 | Medical Factual Report | PDF, 12 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Toxicological Report - Pilot | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Toxicological Report - CFI | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 13 | Witness Supplied Cell Phone Video | MOV file · our copy | Download |
| 14 | Wreckage Release | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 15 | Examination of Debris from Oil Suction Screen | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 16 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 8 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 17 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (Piper) | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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.