Beech G35 accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 20, 1984
On May 20, 1984 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Beech G35, registered N4239D, was destroyed in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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
- May 20, 1984 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech G35 · all G35s on the register
- Registration
- N4239D · no longer on the register · serial D4452
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS STATED IT APPEARED AS THOUGH THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PERFORM A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ON A HIGHWAY. AS THE ACFT REACHED THE HIGHWAY, THE WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE ACCELERATE TO 'FULL POWER' AND SAW THE ACFT PULL UP. THE ACFT CONTACTED THE TOP STATIC WIRE OF A 125 FT HIGH POWER LINE LOCATED APRX 100 YARDS WEST OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ACFT TUMBLED AND IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD 588 FT FROM THE POINT OF WIRE IMPACT. NO MECHANICAL FAILURES/MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND DURING THE INVESTIGATION. AUTOPSY REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE PLT HAD SUFFERED A SUBENDOCARDIAL MYOCARDICAL INFRACTION SOME TIME BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. IT ALSO REVEALED SEVERE CARDIOVASCULAR AND CORONARY DISEASE WITH VESSEL WALL OCCLUSION OF UP TO 90%.
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: 2,787 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,011 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 14, 1984; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,775 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TUL Tulsa OK at 8:10 pm
- Destination: TUL Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; not recorded at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from TUL, 12 miles away
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.