Piper PA-28-161 accident near Norman, Oklahoma, October 2, 2002
On October 2, 2002 at about 11:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9623C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norman, Oklahoma (Univ. Of Oklahoma Westheimer airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control. A factor was the inadequate flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 2, 2002 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Norman, Oklahoma · Univ. Of Oklahoma Westheimer · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9623C · no longer on the register · serial 28-7816505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 11-hour student pilot reported that this was his first supervised solo, and that the first two touch-and-go landing were "normal." On his third approach to a full-stop landing to runway 17, airspeed was approximately 62 knots and the visual approach slope indicator indicated the airplane was too low. The pilot increased power to get back on his approach path, but passing the numbers for runway 17 he noticed he was about 20 feet high and the nose of the airplane seemed a little high. After the pilot lowered the nose the airplane touched down hard and began skidding to the left. The pilot attempted to regain control of the airplane, but overcorrected by intermittently applying brakes. The airplane traveled off the runway at approximately a 90 degree angle, coming to rest in an upright position in a culvert.
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
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 11 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,869.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 2002; 34.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,315 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OUN Norman OK at 11:40 pm
- Destination: Norman OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,200 ft by 1,585 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 am from OUN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.