Piper PA-28-161 accident near Okeechobee, Florida, July 24, 2002
On July 24, 2002 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N9284H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Okeechobee, Florida (Okeechobee County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll following a short field approach and landing, resulting in the on-ground collision with a fence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2002 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Okeechobee, Florida · Okeechobee County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N9284H · no longer on the register · serial 2841256
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to the Okeechobee County Airport where he performed a short field approach and landing to runway 22, then applied power for a touch-and-go landing. After applying power, he later reported feeling "small bouncing", and, turned quickly to the left." He reduced the throttle to idle and applied opposite rudder but the airplane departed the runway and rolled onto grass. While there, he applied the brakes "slowly" and attempted to recover but the left wing then the right wing collided with fence poles. The airplane came to rest upright. Several pilots in the traffic pattern at the time of the accident reported there was a light headwind from the right.
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
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,396 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 22, 2002; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3AG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KVRB Vero Beach FL at 11:40 am
- Destination: KOBE Okeechobee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KFPR, 29 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.