Piper PA-32R-301 accident near Enid, Oklahoma, January 23, 1991
On January 23, 1991 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301, registered N82162, was substantially damaged in an accident near Enid, Oklahoma (Enid Woodring airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE OR USE AIRPLANE WHEEL CHOCKS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1991 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Enid, Oklahoma · Enid Woodring · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301s on the register
- Registration
- N82162 · registry record · serial 32R-8313015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING NORMAL START PROCEDURES, THE AIRPLANE ENGINE FAILED TO START. THE SOLO PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT PLACING THE PARKING ON OR CHOCKING THE AIRPLANE. HE ROTATED THE PROPELLER, AND THE ENGINE STARTED. THE AIRPLANE ACCELEARATED FORWARD. THE AIRPLANE MAINTAINED A STRAIGHT GROUND TRACK AND RAN INTO A HANGAR DOOR, PENETRATING IT. AN EXAMINATION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH REVEALED THAT IT HAD A MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE MAGNETO FROM BEING GROUNDED EVEN THOUGH THE KEY WAS REMOVED OR THE SWITCH PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,684 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 2,372 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: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hamm & Phillips Service CO.
The flight
- Destination: OKC Oklahoma City OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.