Piper PA-34-200T accident near Ponca City, Oklahoma, December 26, 2023
On December 26, 2023 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 1979 Piper PA-34-200T, registered N510P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ponca City, Oklahoma (Ponca City Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of directional control during landing in gusty crosswind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 26, 2023 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Ponca City, Oklahoma · Ponca City Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-200T, built 1979 · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N510P · registry record · serial 34-7970268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he completed the before landing checklist while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern. The approach and landing were completed at a reduced flap setting due to the gusty wind. After the airplane touched down, the pilot “felt a pull to the left,” and he thought that there might have been an issue with the nose wheel steering. The airplane ultimately departed the left side of the runway, and the left main landing gear collapsed. The left wing was damaged during the accident sequence. A postaccident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies with respect to the nose wheel assembly or the steering linkage. Rudder control continuity was confirmed. Surface weather observations indicated that a 50° - 70° right crosswind with gusts to 30 knots prevailed about the time of the accident.
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 (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 340 hours in all; 137 in this make and model; 74 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 282 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 11, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,420 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 18, 2023; 165 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Continental TSIO-360EB (piston); 5,420 hours total
- Engine 2: Continental LTSIO-360EB (piston); 5,420 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OUN Norman OK at 4:20 pm
- Destination: PNC Ponca City OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17, 7,201 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 14 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KPNC
Weather report (METAR): KPNC 261753Z AUTO 24014G26KT 10SM SCT047 BKN060 BKN120 06/M04 A2981 RMK AO2 PK WND 22030/1721 SLP097 T00611039 10061 20000 58013
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on February 8, 2024. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Surface Weather Observations -- Kpnc / 26DEC2023 | PDF, 1 page | 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.