Piper PA-23-160 accident near Owasso, Oklahoma, May 20, 1995
On May 20, 1995, a Piper PA-23-160, registered N3245P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Owasso, Oklahoma (Gundys airport). 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 FAILURES OF THE LANDING GEAR HYDRAULIC PUMP AND THE EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM AS RESULT OF INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1995
- Place
- Owasso, Oklahoma · Gundys · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-160 · all PA-23-160s on the register
- Registration
- N3245P · no longer on the register · serial 23-1190
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING TAKEOFF THE PILOT RETRACTED THE LANDING GEAR AND IT APPEARED TO THE PASSENGER THAT THE GEAR CAME UP SLOWLY. THE PILOT RECYCLED THE LANDING GEAR SEVERAL TIMES AND REPORTED THAT HE SMELT HYDRAULIC FLUID. THE PILOT ELECTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT TO CHECK THE LANDING GEAR. DURING THE APPROACH HE LOWERED THE GEAR; HOWEVER, ONLY THE MAIN GEARS EXTENDED. THE PILOT MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO LOWER THE NOSE GEAR, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON A GRASS AREA ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY WITH THE NOSE RETRACTED AND THE MAIN GEAR EXTENDED. AN INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED THE LACK OF HYDRAULIC FLUID IN THE SYSTEM AND DAMAGE TO THE PUMP.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,450 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,510 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1994; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B3B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OK16 at 11:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,890 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:54 pm from TUL, 12 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.