Beech J35 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 3, 1991
On August 3, 1991 at about 2:49 am local time, a Beech J35, registered N643T, was destroyed in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tulsa International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE ENGINE AILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS WERE THE LIGHT CONDITION AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1991 · about 2:49 am local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Tulsa International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech J35 · all J35s on the register
- Registration
- N643T · no longer on the register · serial D-5718
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE HAD JUST BECOME ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. ALL ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN POWER FAILED. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE INTO TREE TOPS. THE ENGINE WAS LATER FUNCTIONALLY TESTED AND PERFORMED SATISFACTORY.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,060 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 85 in the last 30 days; 865 as pilot in command; 480 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7F4 Wagoner OK at 2:20 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Observation at 2:50 am from TUL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.