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).
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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 17, 2026 · about 7:07 pm local time · cases in 2026
- Place
- Ardmore, Oklahoma · Ardmore Downtown · cases near this airport · 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident site (FAA photo)
Photograph 2 – Accident site (FAA photo)
Photograph 3 – Right engine / forward fuselage (FAA photo)
Photograph 4 – Left outboard wing (FAA photo)
Photograph 5 – Left inboard wing / left engine (FAA photo)
Photograph 6 – Aft fuselage / landing gear (FAA photo)The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 9, 2026. 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, 15 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Weather History -- K1F0 / 17APR2026 | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N9262Y on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-31 Navajo and Chieftain 934 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,840 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-V2AD 2 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ardmore Downtown Executive · nearest airport
- Memorial Field · departed from
- Gainesville Municipal · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Oklahoma 1,300 since 1982 · 181 in the last ten years
- Oklahoma 5,661 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN26LA170.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.