Piper PA-25-235 accident near Catoosa, Oklahoma, March 30, 1995
On March 30, 1995 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4900Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Catoosa, Oklahoma. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN TERRAIN AND OBSTACLE CLEARANCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 30, 1995 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Catoosa, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4900Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AERIAL APPLICATION STUDENT WAS PRACTICING SWATHS OVER THE TREES. THE INSTRUCTOR, WHO WAS MAINTAINING RADIO CONTACT WITH THE PILOT FROM THE GROUND, OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE'S WHEELS CONTACT THE TREES AS THE PILOT COMPLETED A TURN AROUND MANEUVER. THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED THROUGH THE TREES COMING TO REST IN A NOSE DOWN VERTICAL POSITION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY A FAA INSPECTOR DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MECHANICAL OR STRUCTURAL ANOMALIES.
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, foreign licence
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,126 hours in all; 1,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K11 Claremore OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:18 pm from TUL, 15 miles away
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.