Tulsa Downtown Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74127
Thursday, July 2, 1998 20:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight was scheduled to review flight maneuvers prior to the student's practical flight test for the private pilot certificate. The airplane was configured with 25 degrees of flaps for a simulated short field takeoff. The flight instructor added that 'the engine sounded smooth during the entire flight' and the airplane appeared to accelerate normally as it became airborne by the 2,000 foot runway marker. After breaking ground, the 66 hour student pilot established the airplane at the best angle of climb speed; however, the airplane's climb performance was degraded to the point that the airplane was only climbing at a rate of 100 feet per minute. The flight instructor assumed the controls and initially managed to maneuver the airplane around rising terrain and obstructions at the departure end of the runway. The engine was examined under the supervision of the FAA inspector. The engine was started and operated through the normal flight parameters. No pre-existing engine deficiencies were noted and the investigation did not reveal any evidence that the engine was not capable of operating and producing power prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The airplane's impeded climb performance for undetermined reasons. A factor was the rising terrain.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2020
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TULSA
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 74127
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport TULSA DOWNTOWN AIRPARK
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 5F2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 725
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2053 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 267
Weather Observation Facility ID TUL
Elevation of weather observation facility 750
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2109
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 948
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 2 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 810
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1656J
NTSB Number FTW98LA294
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-24052
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Nov 3 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5450
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EVERETT D. OAKS
Aircraft Owner Street Address HC 69, BOX 723
Aircraft Owner City SPAVINAW
Aircraft Owner State OK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 74366
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 5F2
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 2020
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 2965
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --