Piper PA 31P 350 accident near Ardmore, Oklahoma, April 17, 2026
On April 17, 2026 at about 7:07 pm local time, a 1984 Piper PA 31P 350, registered N9262Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ardmore, Oklahoma (Ardmore Downtown airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing on a wet runway with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2026 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Downtown · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 31P 350, built 1984 · all PA 31P 350s on the register
- Registration
- N9262Y · registry record · serial 31P-8414033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot proceeded to his intended destination under visual flight rules while receiving flight following services from air traffic control. As he neared the destination airport, the pilot observed an opening in the underlying cloud layer. As he descended the airplane below the cloud layer, the pilot realized that he was over a different airport located about 29 miles north of his intended destination. The flight was experiencing turbulence, so the pilot decided it would be prudent to land. His initial approach was high so he executed a go-around. On the second landing approach to runway 35, the airplane touched down normally but as it rolled past mid-field, it did not slow down. The airplane subsequently exited the end of the runway pavement and encountered a steep drop off and a wire fence. The airplane sustained damage to the forward fuselage, right engine mount and nacelle, and left outboard wing. The pilot stated that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane before the accident. He reported the runway was wet due to some light rain and drizzle at the time. The airport surface observation, taken about 8 minutes before the accident, reported a south wind from 160° 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
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Wet surface › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 828 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 828 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 9, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Twin Star Montana LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HOT Hot Springs AR at 5:27 pm
- Destination: GLE Gainesville TX
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 35, 5,014 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 11 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from K1F0
Weather report (METAR): METAR K1F0 171915Z AUTO 16011G20KT 10SM OVC030 24/19 A2982
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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 CEN26LA170.