Northrop C-125A accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 29, 1988
On June 29, 1988 at about 11:25 am local time, a Northrop C-125A, registered N3756Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma (Tulsa International airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- June 29, 1988 · about 11:25 am local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · Tulsa International
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Northrop C-125A · all C-125As on the register
- Registration
- N3756Q · no longer on the register · serial 48-634
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD A TYPE RATING OR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION TO ACT AS PILOT IN COMMAND. THE CO-PILOT DID NOT HOLD A TYPE RATING OR WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION TO ACT AS SECOND IN COMMAND AND HIS MEDICAL HAD EXPIRED. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE AN AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE NOR HAD A SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT BEEN ISSUED. THE LEFT PROPELLER WENT INTO REVERSE DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB DUE TO CORROSION AND DETERIORATION OF THE WIRING THAT CONTROLLED THE PROPELLER. THE ACFT CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL AFTER COLLIDING WITH POWER LINES DURING TAKEOFF. IT STRUCK THE GROUND AND WENT THRU A FENCE THEN DOWN A SLOPE AND OVER AN EMBANKMENT. THE ACFT THEN BOUNCED ACROSS A STREET WHILE TURNING AROUND AND COLLIDING WITH A POWER LINE POLE TAIL FIRST. THE ACFT HAD TRAVELED ABOUT 537 FT FROM INITIAL GROUND CONTACT. ALL 3 ENGINES WERE STILL PRODUCING POWER WHEN THE ACFT CAME TO REST.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,274 hours in all; 56 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 2, 1988; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 38,000 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Wright R-1820-202A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: TUL at 11:25 am
- Destination: FOF Dayton OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 7,700 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from TUL, 1 miles away
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.