Medford Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Medford, Oklahoma 73759
Wednesday, January 28, 1987 17:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE ACFT EXPERIENCED A DOUBLE ENG FAILURE AS A RESULT OF FUEL EXHAUSTION DURING DESCENT TO THE DESTINATION APRT. THE PLT ATTEMPTED TO DIVERT TO A NEARBY ARPT DURING THE DESCENT, BUT BOTH ENGS QUIT BEFORE HE HAD THE RWY ASSURED. THE SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTED FORCED LANDING RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE LEFT ENG RESTARTED DURING THE FLARE AND SPUN THE ACFT AROUND TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND, YAWING THE ACFT ON TOUCHDOWN. ALL 3 LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AS A RESULT OF SIDE LOADS. THE PLT STATED THAT ADVERSE WINDS ALOFT EXTENDED THE FLT AND PREVENTED HIM FROM ARRIVING AT THE DESTINATION ARPT AND THAT WHEN HE BECAME AWARE OF THE CRITICAL FUEL STATE, IT WAS TOO LATE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/28/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1700
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MEDFORD
Event State OKLAHOMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 73759
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport MEDFORD MUNICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OK68
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 360
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1655 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID END
Elevation of weather observation facility 1166
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 12000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 356
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jan 28 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1717
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33401
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 1:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N76ND
NTSB Number FTW87LA049
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31
Aircraft Serial Number 317612006
Certified Max Gross Weight 6500
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 7
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 22 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4979
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 8216 UNIV. STA.
Aircraft Owner City GRAND FORKS
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53202
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name UNIV. OF NORTH DAKOTA
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 8216, UNIV.STA.
Operator City GRAND FORKS
Operator State ND
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53202
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code FAR
Departure City FARGO
Departure State ND
Departure Country
Departure Time 1258
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WDG
Destination City ENID
Destination State OK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --