Cessna 205 accident near Medford, Oklahoma, December 25, 1990
On December 25, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 205, registered N8219Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Medford, Oklahoma (Medford airport). It was an aerial observation 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
THE PILOT'S USE OF IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURES WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE AIRPLANE'S ENCOUNTER WITH ROUGH TERRAIN DURING THE UNMANNED TAXI.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 25, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Medford, Oklahoma · Medford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 205
- Registration
- N8219Z · no longer on the register · serial 205-0219
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRPLANE HE FOUND THAT IT HAD A DEAD BATTERY. HE THEN INSTRUCTED THE NON-RATED PASSENGER ON HOW TO MANIPULATE THE ENGINE CONTROLS AND PROCEEDED TO HAND PROP THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE STARTED AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO BOARD THE AIRPLANE AS THE PASSENGER WAS BLOCKING THE ENTRY IN HIS ATTEMPT TO GET OUT. THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY ROLLED ACROSS A RUNWAY, THROUGH THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY FENCE, THROUGH A DITCH, AND ACROSS A ROAD INTO AN OPEN FIELD BEFORE THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND IT NOSED OVER. NO CHOCKS WERE USED DURING THE START.
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
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 15, 1990; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental I0-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OK68 at 10:00 pm
- Destination: OK68
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 15 knots
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:52 pm from PNC, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.