Cessna 172S accident near Jenks, Oklahoma, February 3, 2008
On February 3, 2008 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172S, registered N766PD, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Jenks, Oklahoma (Richard Lloyd Jones JR airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The owner of the parking surface's failure to ensure that the parking surface was clear of hazards to taxiing airplanes and the pilot's failure to ensure a safe taxi route in unfamiliar surroundings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 3, 2008 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jenks, Oklahoma · Richard Lloyd Jones JR · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N766PD · registry record · serial 172S8419
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While taxiing the airplane to park, the pilot selected an open spot located on the side of the parking apron. The pilot noticed a drainage ditch covered with a metal grate but did not perceive that only a portion of the ditch was covered by the grate. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane to park, the nose wheel entered the uncovered ditch and the propeller contacted the ground. The pilot shut down the airplane and exited normally. Damage was sustained to the airplane's firewall. The pilot was not injured. No markings were present to make the pilot aware of the hazard.
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
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Hidden/submerged object › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Ramp facilities › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › (general) › Airport personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 99 hours in all; 87 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 67 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,515 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2008; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Christiansen Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: OKM Okmulgee OK at 9:10 pm
- Destination: RVS Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.71 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from RVS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.