Beech E18S and Swearingen SA226TC accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, June 24, 1986
On June 24, 1986 at about 3:10 am local time, 2 aircraft, Beech E18S (N2001C) and Swearingen SA226TC (N516SS), were involved in the same accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Will Rogers World airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- June 24, 1986 · about 3:10 am local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Will Rogers World
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech E18S · all E18Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2001C · no longer on the register · serial BA-249
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
- Aircraft 2
- Swearingen SA226TC · all SA226TCs on the register
- Registration
- N516SS · no longer on the register · serial TC-211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech E18S final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SWEARINGEN SA-226TC, N516SS, WAS LNDD AT NGT ON RWY 17L. AFTER LNDG, THE FLT CREW EXITED ONTO TAXIWAY-E3 (TWY-E3), WHERE THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY TOWER TO HOLD. A BEECH E18S, N2001C, WAS THEN LNDD ON THE SAME RWY (RWY 17L) & ITS PLT ALSO EXITED ONTO TWY-E3. THE BEECH PLT RPRTD THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE SWEARINGEN IN THE DARKNESS UNTIL AFTER ENTERING THE TWY. BEFORE HE COULD STOP, THE RIGHT WING OF THE BEECH COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT WING OF THE SWEARINGEN.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Swearingen SA226TC final · quoted from the NTSB record
A SWEARINGEN SA-226TC, N516SS, WAS LNDD AT NGT ON RWY 17L. AFTER LNDG, THE FLT CREW EXITED ONTO TAXIWAY-E3 (TWY-E3), WHERE THEY WERE INSTRUCTED BY TOWER TO HOLD. A BEECH E18S, N2001C, WAS THEN LNDD ON THE SAME RWY (RWY 17L) & ITS PLT ALSO EXITED ONTO TWY-E3. THE BEECH PLT RPRTD THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE SWEARINGEN IN THE DARKNESS UNTIL AFTER ENTERING THE TWY. BEFORE HE COULD STOP, THE RIGHT WING OF THE BEECH COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT WING OF THE SWEARINGEN.
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 for the Beech E18S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 10,150 hours in all; 2,083 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,111 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 1986; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,300 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Springdale Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: Fort Smith AR at 2:00 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 17L, 9,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:41 am from OKC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Swearingen SA226TC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 10,062 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELP El Paso TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 17L, 9,800 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.