Douglas A-26B accident near Lawton, Oklahoma, March 17, 1985
On March 17, 1985 at about 10:35 pm local time, a Douglas A-26B, registered N142ER, was destroyed in an accident near Lawton, Oklahoma. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1985 · about 10:35 pm local time
- Place
- Lawton, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas A-26B · all A-26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N142ER · no longer on the register · serial 6928
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INTERMITTANT FIRE IN THE LEFT ENGINE ACCESSORY SECTION LED TO LOSS OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE RIGHT ENGINE INJESTED WATER AND QUIT. THE LANDING GEAR HAD BEEN LEFT PINNED IN THE DOWN POSITION BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION REPORTED ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. NEITHER PROPELLER WAS FEATHERED, BUT THE RESULTING HIGH RATE OF DESCENT LED TO A FORCED LANDING BEFORE THE LEFT TANK BLEW UP AND THE WING BURNED OFF. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AFTER ALL THREE OCCUPANTS ESCAPED WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING FERRIED TO ANOTHER FACILITY FOR RESTORATION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,395 hours in all; 158 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,090 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 3, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 32,000 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2800-79 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ADH Ada OK at 10:00 pm
- Destination: FDR Frederick OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from LAW, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW85LA151.