Piper 18 accident near Gage, Oklahoma, July 21, 1982
On July 21, 1982 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper 18, registered N3937Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gage, Oklahoma. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- July 21, 1982 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gage, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper 18
- Registration
- N3937Z · registry record · serial 18-7783
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED TO SPRAY GRASSHOPPERS AND WAS FLYING IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION. THE RIGHT WING STRUCK A HIGH LINE WIRE THAT IS ORIENTED NORTH AND SOUTH. AFTER STRIKING THE WIRE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 190 FEET EAST OF THE HIGH LINE. THE PILOT WAS PINNED TO THE WRECKAGE FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES BEFORE BEING TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 5,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,727 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gage OK at 10:45 am
- Destination: Gage OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 199°F (93°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N3937Z the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.