Casualties unknown

Engine Failure Forces Student Pilot to Land on Highway During Solo Cross-Country Flight (N6196P)

Stillwater, OK, US

On July 26, 1983, a Piper PA-24-250 (registration N6196P) was involved in an aviation accident near Stillwater, OK. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During a solo cross-country flight, a student pilot experienced engine power loss and made an emergency landing on a highway. The aircraft struck a road sign and other structures. Investigation found the fuel selector set to left outboard with an empty tank.

Incident

A student pilot, operating alone on a cross-country flight, experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot executed an emergency landing on a highway. The event occurred during daytime conditions, though specific time details are not available.

Landing and Damage

During the emergency landing, the aircraft's right wing contacted a road sign. The airplane subsequently departed the right side of the highway and collided with additional structures. The extent of damage to the aircraft and structures has not been detailed in official sources.

Investigation Details

Post-accident examination revealed that the fuel selector was positioned to the left outboard tank setting. The left outboard fuel tank was found empty. The student pilot reported that he had not switched fuel tanks during the flight and had not leaned the fuel mixture. No further causal factors have been identified in the investigation report.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001214X43763. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.