Piper PA-25 accident near Spiro, Oklahoma, March 26, 1991
On March 26, 1991 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25, registered N9845P, was destroyed in an accident near Spiro, Oklahoma. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A POWER LOSS FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 26, 1991 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Spiro, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25 · all PA-25s on the register
- Registration
- N9845P · no longer on the register · serial 25-7556164
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. DURING THE FORCED LANDING, GROUND CONTACT OCCURRED ON A GENTLE UPSLOPE WITH WINGS LEVEL AND NOSE SLIGHTLY LOW. ABOUT 20 FEET AFTER INITIAL CONTACT THE AIRPLANE SLID INTO TWO FENCE POSTS AND WIRE FENCING MATERIAL, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. POST IMPACT FIRE CONSUMED THE WRECKAGE.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,900 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 6,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,738 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 21, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Double "S" Flying, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.