Piper PA-18A-150 accident near Mountain Park, Oklahoma, March 28, 1983
On March 28, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A-150, registered N6983D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mountain Park, Oklahoma. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- March 28, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mountain Park, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A-150 · all PA-18A-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6983D · registry record · serial 185511
- 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 PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF TO THE NORTH ON A HIGHWAY FOR A CROP SPRAYING OPERATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH 720 POUNDS OF CHEMICAL AND 36 GAL OF FUEL. HE PERCEIVED A BREEZE FROM THE SOUTH BUT TOOK OFF NORTH BECAUSE OF A HILL TO THE SOUTH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROTATED AFTER ABOUT 1500 FEET WITH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN SIGHT. TO AVOID FLYING OVER THE TRAFFIC THE PILOT TURNED LEFT OVER A WHEAT FIELD BORDERED BY 20-30 FOOT TALL TREES. HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT MAINTAINING ALTITUDE AND BECAME CONCERNED WITH CLEARING THE TREES SO HE LOWERED THE FLAPS TO 20 DEGREES AND DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD. WHILE CONTINUING THE TURN TO AVOID THE TREES, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CARTWHEEL TO A STOP, UPRIGHT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE SOUTHERLY WIND HAD INCREASED TO ABOUT 10 MPH. AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APRX 2229 POUNDS. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT LOG MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF IS 2070 POUNDS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 700 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 624 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,209 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 1, 1982; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,070 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 145° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.