Cessna 172N accident near Hulen, Oklahoma, March 17, 1982
On March 17, 1982 at about 3:41 pm local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N5608J, was destroyed in an accident near Hulen, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- March 17, 1982 · about 3:41 pm local time
- Place
- Hulen, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N5608J · no longer on the register · serial 17273820
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DEPARTED LAWTON, OKLAHOMA AT 0902 LOCAL TIME ON A FLIGHT TO INSPECT MINERAL PROPERTY. AT ABOUT 0931, THE PILOT CONTACTED FT. SILL APPROACH CONTROL AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO LAWTON. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY A HEADING OF 320 DEGREES. AFTER FLYING THAT HEADING FOR ABOUT SIX MILES. THE PILOT ASKED FOR AND WAS GIVEN THE FT. SILL WEATHER. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN TO A SOUTHERLY HEADING. WHEN QUERIED, THE PILOT REPLIED HE WAS IN VFR CONDITIONS AND TURNED INTENTIONALLY. EARLIER, THE RADAR CONTROLLER HAD RECEIVED REPORTS OF A SCUD LAYER SOUTHEAST OF LAWTON AND ASSUMED THE PILOT WAS VFR ON TOP. THE CONTROLLER PROVIDED A HEADING OF 260 DEGREES AND ADVISED THIS SHOULD TAKE HIM INTO A CLEAR AREA. AT 0941, THE AIRCRAFT RETURN DISAPPEARED FROM THE RADAR SCOPE. THE PLANE CRASHED SOUTHEAST OF LAWTON IN A WHEAT FIELD ON LEVEL TERRAIN. IT TRAVELED ABOUT 300 FT AFTER IMPACT. AN OBSERVER ON A RESCUE HELICOPTER REPORTED A CEILING OF 100 TO 300 FT AND VISIBILITY OF 1/4 TO 1/2 MILE.
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
- Flight time: 918 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 836 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 690 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lawton OK at 9:41 am
- Destination: Lawton OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 0 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.