Beech G35 accident near Stillwater, Oklahoma, January 20, 1982
On January 20, 1982 at about 3:22 am local time, a Beech G35, registered N4438D, was destroyed in an accident near Stillwater, Oklahoma (Stillwater Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- January 20, 1982 · about 3:22 am local time
- Place
- Stillwater, Oklahoma · Stillwater Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4438D · registry record · serial 4536
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED ON A DARK NIGHT WITH NO RECORD OF A FLIGHT PLAN FILED OR A WEATHER BRIEFING RECEIVED. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT CLIMB OUT OF SIGHT INTO A FOG LAYER WHEN 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY THEN REAPPEAR AND CONTINUE TO FLY AT TREE TOP LEVEL MAINTAINING RUNWAY HEADING. A WITNESS THEN SAW THE AIRCRAFT MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE BEFORE LOSING SIGHT OF IT JUST PRIOR TO HEARING AN EXPLOSION. THE PILOT HAD A PRIVATE PILOT'S CERTIFICATE BUT WAS NOT INSTRUMENT QUALIFIED.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 115 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BB (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SWO Stillwater OK at 9:20 pm
- Destination: SWO Stillwater OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.