Fairchild Merlin SA-226-T accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, January 2, 2007
On January 2, 2007 at about 5:40 pm local time, a Fairchild Merlin SA-226-T, registered YV2045, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Richard L. Jones Jr airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control as result of the malfunction of the nose wheel steering mechanism during landing for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 2, 2007 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Richard L. Jones Jr · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 9 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Fairchild Merlin SA-226-T
- Registration
- YV2045 · no longer on the register · serial TT-425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The twin pressurized turboprop airplane veered to the left and departed the runway during landing on runway 19R. Runway 19R was reported to be a 5,102-foot long by 100-foot wide asphalt runway. The airplane came to rest on the grass between runway 13 and taxiway Juliet. The pilot reported that following a normal full-flap landing, the airplane started to veer to the left as soon as the nose wheel tires touched down on the runway. The pilot was not able to compensate for the uncommanded drift as result of the nose wheel steering mechanism. The airplane sustained structural damage to the nose section & nose wheel assembly. The 7 passengers and 2 crewmembers egressed the airplane normally and sustained no injuries. The reason for the uncommanded left drift could not be determined. A completed NTSB Form 6120.1 was not received from either one of the pilots nor the operator. The weather was reported as calm winds, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 45 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 28 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.41 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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,577 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett-Airesearch TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KFXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 1:40 pm
- Destination: KRVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19R, 5,102 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.40 inHg
- Observation at 5:44 pm from KRVS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 7 |
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.