Piper PA-23 accident near Duncan, Oklahoma, March 13, 1994
On March 13, 1994 at about 5:49 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N2297P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Duncan, Oklahoma. 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
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG ENGINE FOR SHUT DOWN. 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 13, 1994 · about 5:49 pm local time
- Place
- Duncan, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N2297P · no longer on the register · serial 23-909
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT THE PILOT SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE TO SIMULATE A SINGLE ENGINE LANDING TO A PROSPECTIVE NEW OWNER. AFTER ENTERING THE BASE LEG TO FINAL THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR; IT DID NOT RESPOND. HE REALIZED THAT THE HYDRAULIC PUMP WAS DRIVEN BY THE LEFT ENGINE, SO HE ATTEMPTED A RESTART. PRIOR TO ATTEMPTING THE RESTART HE PASSED CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO THE COMMERCIALLY RATED PASSENGER, WHO HAD NO EXPERIENCE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL AIRPLANE, HIS ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE LEFT ENGINE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WHEN HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT FROM HIS PASSENGER HE RECOGNIZED THAT HE HAD OVER FLOWN THE AIRPORT AND ELECTED TO LAND IN A WHEATFIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FENCE.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,700 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 68 in the last 90 days; 42 in the last 30 days; 4,660 as pilot in command; 840 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,817 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:47 pm from LAW, 25 miles away
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.