Beech BE-300 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 22, 2002
On June 22, 2002 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Beech BE-300, registered N224CR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane resulting in the in-flight separation of the left engine inboard access door.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2002 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech BE-300
- Registration
- N224CR · registry record · serial FL-60
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While climbing through 9,500 feet msl, the inboard access panel for the left engine cowling became open. During the turn to return to the departure airport, the door separated from the airplane. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. The integrity of the pressure vessel was compromised on the left side of the cabin. The Pilot's Operating Handbook and FAA Approved Flight Manual, Section IV Normal Procedures, Preflight Inspection states in part, " to check the engine cowling, doors, and panels."
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,705 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 6,615 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 30, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,271.6 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 12, 2001; 193 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 15,000 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Concepts, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: GTU Georgetown TX
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.