Piper PA-28R accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, July 22, 1988
On July 22, 1988 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R, registered N2970M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Downtown Airpark airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- July 22, 1988 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · Downtown Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R · all PA-28Rs on the register
- Registration
- N2970M · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7918001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIR TAXI AIRPLANE, HAULING CARGO, WAS ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF AND RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND ENDED UP IN A DITCH. THE PILOT SAID THE ENGINE HAD FAILED. A CHECK ON THE WRECKAGE REVEALED THE ENGINE HAD THE WRONG TYPE OF SPARK PLUGS, ONE MAGNETO WAS ADVANCED 7 DEGREES TOO FAR, AND THE BRAKES WERE MAKING METAL TO METAL CONTACT. AFTER PLUGS WERE CHANGED AND THE MAGNETO RESET, THE ENGINE WAS OPERATED FROM IDLE TO FULL THROTTLE AND OPERATED SATISFACTORILY. THE AIRPLANE WAS ALSO OVERWEIGHT. THE BRAKES WERE FOUND WITH LININGS WORN TO THE RIVETS.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Adios Air Limited
The flight
- Departed from: 2DT at 10:45 pm
- Destination: TUL Tulsa OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 3,240 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:48 pm from OKC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.