Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Hartshorne, Oklahoma, June 15, 1982
On June 15, 1982 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N8442T, was destroyed in an accident near Hartshorne, Oklahoma. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1982 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Hartshorne, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8442T · no longer on the register · serial 32R8129109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE PILOT WAS ADVISED BY RADIO OF A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM AND TORNADO WATCH ALONG HIS ROUTE. AT 1613 CDT, HE WAS ADVISED OF A LINE OF RADAR RETURNS ABOUT 10 MILES AHEAD. HE REPLIED THAT IT "LOOKS LIKE A SOFT SPOT THROUGH THERE, JUST TO THE NORTH OF OUR POSITION" AND CONTINUED. AT ABOUT 1621 CDT, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. HE REPORTED THAT HE HAD LOST THE ENGINE (ENGINE QUIT) AND AN AILERON, AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DOWN TO 5000 FT. (THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN AT 10,500 FT.) ABOUT 25 SECONDS LATER, HE STATED THAT THE PLANE WAS HARD TO CONTROL, HE WAS AT 2500 FT AND DESCENDING AND HE HAD LOST HIS RIGHT WING. AN EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE INDICATED THE PLANE HAD IMPACTED IN A FLAT SPIN. THE EMPENNAGE, RIGHT AILERON AND A PORTION OF THE OUTER WING PANEL (FORWARD OF THE MAIN SPAR) HAD SEPARATED AND WERE NOT FOUND.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 119 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 359 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Monco, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: TYR Tyler TX at 3:27 pm
- Destination: TUL Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 pm from MLC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.