Piper PA-28-151 accident near Marietta, Oklahoma, November 5, 1989
On November 5, 1989 at about 3:45 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N536SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marietta, Oklahoma (Mcgehee airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S USE OF THE WRONG RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE TAILWIND AND RISING TERRAIN BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 5, 1989 · about 3:45 am local time
- Place
- Marietta, Oklahoma · Mcgehee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N536SF · no longer on the register · serial 28-7715110
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT & 3 PASSENGERS TOOK OFF FROM A 2450 FT SOD STRIP WITH A TAILWIND. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT BEGAN TO SETTLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT CONTACTED RISING TERRAIN ABOUT 150 FT BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY & 30 TO 40 FT ABOVE THE RWY ELEVATION. IT THEN ROLLED ABOUT 500 FT & STRUCK A BARBED WIRE FENCE & TREES. THE PLT RPRTD HE WAS AWARE THE ACFT WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE TERRAIN; THEREFORE, HE REDUCED POWER & APPLIED BRAKES. ABOUT 150 MI NORTH AT OKLAHOMA CITY, THE WIND WAS FROM 170 DEG AT 17 KTS. PSNL AT THE AIRSTRIP ESTIMATED THE WIND WAS SOUTHERLY AT ABOUT 15 KTS.
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: 245 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Grand Prairie Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: T50 at 3:45 am
- Destination: F67 Grand Prairie TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,450 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 170° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from OKC, 93 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.