Amateur-built II accident near Skiatook, Oklahoma, April 11, 2023
On April 11, 2023 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1980 amateur-built II, registered N39GC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Skiatook, Oklahoma (Skiatook Muni airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in a gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 11, 2023 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Skiatook, Oklahoma · Skiatook Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II, built 1980
- Registration
- N39GC · registry record · serial AS123
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he had just purchased the airplane and the accident flight was his first flight in it. While performing a touch-and-go-landing with a left gusting crosswind, the airplane veered right, departed the runway, and struck a runway light. The left main landing gear separated, and the airplane came to rest in the grass next to the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and lower wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the airplane was landing on runway 18 with wind variable at 12 knots with gusts to 21 knots. The pilot reported that he did not look at the windsock before the landing.
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 on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 130.6 hours in all; 5.5 in this make and model; 11.8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 81.7 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 22, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 571 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 22, 2022; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,520 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 571 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 37T Calico Rock AL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: kbgd Borger TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,002 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 12 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KTUL, 11 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KTUL 112053Z 15012G21KT 10SM FEW070 25/08 A3019 RMK AO2 PK WND 18027/2006 SLP216 T02500083 56024
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 7, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.