Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Eufaula, Oklahoma, October 25, 1990
On October 25, 1990 at about 5:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N4537J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eufaula, Oklahoma (Fountainhead airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A RESTRICTION IN THE MOVEMENT OF THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. THE RESTRICTION RESULTED FROM A PASSENGER'S INADVERTENT PLACEMENT OF AN OBJECT ON THE COCKPIT'S FLOOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 1990 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Eufaula, Oklahoma · Fountainhead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4537J · registry record · serial 287R-30396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A NORMAL LANDING. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE AND IT DEPARTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH FOUR RUNWAY LIGHTS, A SIGN, AND A BENCH. THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER HAD INADVERTENTLY DROPPED A CAMERA CASE WHICH RESTRICTED THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL'S MOVEMENT.
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: 244 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 203 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Crabtree Aircraft CO. INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GOK Guthrie OK at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MLC, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.