Amateur-built SA-100 accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 17, 1986
On August 17, 1986 at about 6:44 pm local time, a amateur-built SA-100, registered N57DH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- August 17, 1986 · about 6:44 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA-100
- Registration
- N57DH · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS. THE PLT STATED AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING A ROLL MANEUVER. THE ENGINE RAN FOR A SHORT TIME AT APRX 1800 RPM AND THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY. THE PLT LANDED IN A CULTIVATED WHEAT FIELD WHILE ENROUTE TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT (SUNDANCE). DURING A POST ACCIDENT CHECK THE ENGINE STARTED BUT WOULD NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER AND CUT OUT AT 1300 RPM. WHEN THE CARBURETOR WAS REMOVED AND CHECKED IT WAS FOUND TO CONTAIN A TRASH BUILD-UP AT THE DISCHARGE NEEDLE PLUS A LEAN MIXTURE SETTING.
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: 546 hours in all; 29 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 492 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 247 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1986; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-DZ (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWA Bethany OK
- Destination: PWA Bethany OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N57DH 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.