Piper PA-28-161 accident near Marietta, Oklahoma, May 21, 2006
On May 21, 2006 at about 2:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9419C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Oklahoma (Mcgehee Catfish Restaurant airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the dark night conditions and the pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2006 · about 2:15 am local time
- Place
- Marietta, Oklahoma · Mcgehee Catfish Restaurant · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9419C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816474
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 175-hour private pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) that he taxied to runway 17, and completed a run-up. The pilot reported that "everything checked ok" and he proceeded with a takeoff. During the night takeoff run from the 2,450-foot long, by 55-foot wide turf runway, the landing light "blinked off." The pilot stated that despite the landing light going out he continued the takeoff run and rotated at 60 knots; however, he was concerned "about the trees at the end of the runway, so he was trying to get all the lift he could." The pilot reported that he did not hear the "stall alarm," but thought he might have stalled the airplane. The pilot also reported that the single-engine airplane with its three passengers was over its gross weight limit by approximately 135 pounds. The airplane's takeoff performance chart reveals that in order to clear a 50-foot obstacle, the takeoff distance would be about 2,300 feet, with a dry, paved runway at gross weight. Additionally, the density altitude was calculated by the NTSB Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) to be 3,038 feet. At 2049, the automated weather observing system at the nearest airport with recorded weather, located approximately 15 miles north of the accident site, reported wind from 180 degrees at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, a clear sky, temperature 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 66 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 29.83 inches of Mercury.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 175 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T40 Marietta OK
- Destination: 8F7 Decatur TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,450 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 1:49 am from 1F0, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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 N9419C 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.