Street Runs Alongside Runway

Could it be that North 181st Street in Owasso, OK looks a little too much like the runway at Gundy's Airport? That's certainly something the NTSB will examine, as it continues to investigate the July 2nd crash of a Cessna 180 taildragger.

The pilot, Ronnie Barnes, was killed in the accident. His 11-year old grandson suffered serious injuries after the C180 (file photo of type, above right) landed on 181st street instead of Runway 17... back-taxied and took off again.

The safety board's preliminary report says Barnes apparently hit a street sign on landing... then hit the same street sign taking off again. As he climbed, witnesses say Barnes drifted off the runwway centerline and under some powerlines.

As he continued to climb... the plane's wing caught under the lines and the aircraft flipped over, then dove almost vertically into the ground.

As you may have guessed, Runway 17 and 181st Street are right next to each other. The runway is 2,600 feet long and 26 feet wide... while the road is 1,600 feet long and 22-feet wide.

Both surfaces are asphalt and, to make matters just a little more confusing... both have windsocks at the end of the pavement.

The NTSB investigation continues.

FMI: Read The Preliminary Report