Piper PA28-140 accident near Durant, Oklahoma, March 31, 1990
On March 31, 1990 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N7174R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Durant, Oklahoma (Durant Eaker Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED (VSO) AND SUBSEQUENT STALL OF THE AIRCRAFT AT AN ALTITUDE FROM WHICH RECOVERY WAS NOT POSSIBLE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PROCEDURES FOR THE LANDING APPROACH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 31, 1990 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Durant, Oklahoma · Durant Eaker Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7174R · registry record · serial 28-21884
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE NEWLY CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS EXECUTING A PRACTICE SHORT FIELD LANDING FROM A PRACTICE NDB APPROACH. THE SECOND PILOT ON BOARD REPORTED THAT, AT APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 FEET AGL OVER THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE AIRCRAFT NOSE SUDDENLY PITCHED DOWN. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE RUNWAY NOSE FIRST AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR AFT. THE PILOT HAD STATED THAT HE HAD TRIMMED THE AIRCRAFT TO A 'FAIRLY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE' AND THAT HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO RECOVER FROM THE DESCENT BY PULLING THE CONTROL YOKE AFT. THE SECOND PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 KNOTS DURING THE LAST OBSERVATION ON SHORT FINAL.
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: 208 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 162 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1F4 Madil OK at 9:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.