Piper PA24 accident near Wagoner, Oklahoma, October 16, 2016
On October 16, 2016 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1963 Piper PA24, registered N8277P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Wagoner, Oklahoma (Hefner-Easley 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 16, 2016 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wagoner, Oklahoma · Hefner-Easley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 250, built 1963 · all PA24s on the register
- Registration
- N8277P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3529
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he made the approach at 80 nautical miles per hour (knots) with full flaps, "crabbing into the wind," and during the landing roll a gust of wind caused the airplane to veer left of the runway centerline. The pilot further reported that he attempted to correct back to the centerline with rudder, but ran out of rudder authority. As the airplane veered off the left side of the runway the left wing impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no pre impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind direction as variable, at a speed of 24 knots. The pilot landed runway 18. A weather reporting station 14 miles to the south, at 1353 reported wind 170 true at 17 knots gusting to 26 knots.
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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Runway excursion during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 820 hours in all; 730 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 820 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,590 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 4,590 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BBG Branson MO at 6:30 pm
- Destination: H68 Wagoner OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,401 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KTQH, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on November 17, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.