Piper PA-18A accident near Eva, Oklahoma, June 14, 1989
On June 14, 1989 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A, registered N6873B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eva, Oklahoma. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S LIMITED VISUAL PERCEPTION DUE TO THE GROUND VEHICLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 1989 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Eva, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A · all PA-18As on the register
- Registration
- N6873B · registry record · serial 18-5053
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HIS FLAGMAN'S PICKUP TRUCK BLOCKED HIS VIEW OF A RAILROAD CROSSING SIGN. DURING WHAT WAS TO HAVE BEEN THE FINAL SWATH RUN, THE TRUCK WAS MOVED REVEALING THE SIGN. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP, BUT WAS NOT ABLE TO AVOID COLLIDING WITH THE SIGN. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY IMPACTED UPRIGHT IN SOFT TERRAIN AND CAME TO REST ABOUT 100 FEET FROM THE SIGN.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 5,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,070 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EHA Elkhart KS at 1:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:17 pm from LBL, 53 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 FTW89DPJ06.