Piper PA-28-140 accident near Hennessey, Oklahoma, November 21, 1982
On November 21, 1982 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N9816W, was destroyed in an accident near Hennessey, Oklahoma (Racer Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. 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
- November 21, 1982 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hennessey, Oklahoma · Racer Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N9816W · no longer on the register · serial 28-23317
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS GIVING TAXI RIDES TO HIS GRANDCHILDREN AT A PRIVATE FARM STRIP. ACCOMPANIED BY TWO TEENAGE GRANDDAUGHTERS, THE PLT WAS OBSERVED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT HOLDING THE ENTRY DOOR OPEN WHILE TAXIING THE ACFT UP & DOWN THE STRIP. A WITNESS HEARD THE THROTTLE ADVANCE AT APPROXIMATELY MID FIELD & SAW THE ACFT BECOME AIRBORNE NEAR THE END OF THE STRIP. THE ACFT CLIMBED IN A VERY HIGH NOSE UP ATTITUDE & THEN SLID BACKWARDS IN THE AIR, DISAPPEARING FROM VIEW IN A TAIL DOWN FALL. THE TRIM WAS FOUND IN THE FULL NOSE UP POSITION. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. NEITHER OF THE PASSENGERS HAD ANY AERONAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE. THE PLT HAD A MEDICAL HISTORY OF TREATMENT FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. A REVIEW OF HIS LOG BOOK INDICATED THAT HE DISCONTINUED FLYING WHILE TAKING MEDICATION. HE HAD JUST STARTED FLYING AGAIN AFTER DISCONTINUING HIS MEDICATION. THE PLT'S SON STATED THAT THE PLT HAD NOT INTENDED TO TAKE OFF & FELT STRONGLY THAT THE PLT BECAME INCAPACITATED WHILE TAXIING & BECAME AIRBORNE INADVERTANTLY.
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: 269 hours in all; 232 in this make and model; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,367 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hennessey OK at 2:28 pm
- Destination: Hennessey OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,737 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 145°F (63°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from END, 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.