Piper PA-38-112 accident near Seminole, Oklahoma, April 25, 2004
On April 25, 2004 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N6228A, was destroyed in an accident near Seminole, Oklahoma (Private Airstrip 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 pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning. A contributing factor was the pilot's use of unsuitable terrain for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2004 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Seminole, Oklahoma · Private Airstrip · 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
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N6228A · no longer on the register · serial 38-7A0348
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 6,500-hour pilot executed a short field takeoff at the 500 foot mark of the 3,300-foot long by 20-foot wide, unimproved, gravel road. After a normal run-up and takeoff roll, the airplane rotated, "settled" back onto the road, and impacted a stationary tractor with the left wing. The airplane "spun" around 90-degrees, and slid to the right until it collided with two parked bulldozers. There were muddy soft spots on the left side of the road, and a steel fence post on the left side of the road showed impact marks from what appeared to be the left wing of the airplane. The owner of the private road stated that he had advised the pilot prior to takeoff that he would be improving the road in the near future. The road had not been utilized for some time by airplanes, and about 90% of the surface was loose gravel.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,500 hours in all; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 3, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-LZC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Seminole OK at 6:50 pm
- Destination: PWA Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,300 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:32 pm from SNL, 14 miles away
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.