Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, December 22, 1994
On December 22, 1994, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N2874R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL STARVATION AS A RESULT OF IMPROPER FUEL SELECTOR POSITION. FACTORS WERE THE DARK NIGHT AND 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
- December 22, 1994
- Place
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N2874R · no longer on the register · serial 28R-35314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL STARVATION DURING AN INSTRUCTIONAL INSTRUMENT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. THEY WERE ENTERING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN OF THEIR DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE (TIME) FOR THE STUDENT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AND ACCOMPLISH THE NEEDED MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL SELECTOR TO THE OTHER TANK. A NIGHT FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED IN A FIELD WITH A DITCH AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE DITCH DURING ROLL-OUT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,045 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 262 in the last 90 days; 114 in the last 30 days; 884 as pilot in command; 663 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 3, 1994; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWO Stillwater OK
- Destination: PWA OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 010° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.