Piper PA32 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, February 23, 2024
On February 23, 2024 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1966 Piper PA32, registered N3645W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tulsa Riverside airport). It was a personal 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 pilot's inadvertent retraction of the flaps while landing which resulted in a hard landing and loss of directional control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 2024 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Tulsa Riverside · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32 260, built 1966 · all PA32s on the register
- Registration
- N3645W · registry record · serial 32-549
- 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, while landing, the flaps were inadvertently retracted from the full position. The airplane touched down abruptly on the right side of the runway and headed off the runway toward the runway safety area. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder but overcorrected and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The pilot reported he then attempted a go-around but was not able to establish enough airspeed to become airborne, so he aborted the maneuver. During the runway excursion, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 1R in a variable wind of 5 knots, gusting to 20 knots.
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)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 119 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 30, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,498 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 23, 2023; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E985 (piston); 3,498 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 39OK Goldsby OK at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01R/, 4,208 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KRVS
Weather report (METAR): KRVS 232153Z VRB05G20KT 10SM CLR 21/M05 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02061050
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on July 11, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Inspector | 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.