Piper PA-28-180 accident near Grandfield, Oklahoma, December 12, 1982
On December 12, 1982 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N9317J, was involved in an accident near Grandfield, Oklahoma (Grandfield Municipal). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt. 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
- December 12, 1982 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Grandfield, Oklahoma · Grandfield Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N9317J · no longer on the register · serial 28-3426
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, A CHILD, WHO HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO OCCUPY THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT DURING THE TAKEOFF, FELL FROM THE ACFT WHEN THE DOOR OPENED IN FLIGHT. THE CHILD'S GRANDFATHER, WHO OCCUPIED THE REAR SEAT, ALLOWED THE YOUNGSTER TO CLIMB INTO THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT STAY IN HIS SEAT BELT. WITH THE CARGO DOOR IN THE LATCHED POSITION IT WOULD POP OPEN IF HIT SHARPLY IN THE CENTER OF THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE ACFT. THE DOOR IS NOT REINFORCED & IS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND FORCES FROM INSIDE THE ACFT.
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: 172 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,179 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OK02 Grandfield OK at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Altus OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 113°F (45°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from LTS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N9317J 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.