Cessna R172K accident near Goldsby, Oklahoma, June 21, 2008
On June 21, 2008 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Cessna R172K, registered N1439V, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Goldsby, Oklahoma (David Jay Perry airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's delay in initiating rejected takeoff procedures, resulting in the airplane going off the end of the runway and nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2008 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Goldsby, Oklahoma · David Jay Perry · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172K · all R172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N1439V · no longer on the register · serial R1722191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot didn't think the airplane was accelerating as it should and he decided to abort the takeoff. The airplane traveled 500 feet past the end of the runway and nosed over, crushing the vertical stabilizer.
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 takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1K4 Goldsby OK at 11:00 pm
- Destination: JLN Joplin MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 23,000 ft; a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 pm from OKC, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1439V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.