Piper PA-28-181 accident near Fairview, Oklahoma, July 20, 1998
On July 20, 1998 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N626BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fairview, Oklahoma. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion as a result of the pilot's failure to refuel. 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
- July 20, 1998 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Fairview, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N626BP · registry record · serial 28-7790552
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While en route to the Clinton Municipal Airport, Clinton, Oklahoma, the airplane encountered a 'brisk' headwind. Approximately 35 miles north of Fairview, Oklahoma, the pilot 'realized' that the aircraft was low on fuel. He reported the fuel situation to the fixed base operator (FBO) at the Fairview Municipal Airport and continued towards the airport. About 1/2 mile north of the airport, the aircraft 'ran out of fuel'. A forced landing was initiated to a field, and during the landing roll, the airplane impacted a ditch. The pilot reported that prior to the flight the fuel level was 'above the tank tabs, approximately 36 gallons.'
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
- Flight time: 203 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 165 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K83 Sabetha KS at 12:20 pm
- Destination: CLK Clinton OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from END, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.