The light attack aircraft went down in a field for unknown reasons minutes after taking off for a training mission.
An OA-1K Skyraider II of the U.S. Air Force had to perform a forced landing in a field near Oklahoma City on Oct. 23, 2025. The OA-1K struck two power poles while touching down, causing a small grass fire, but the crew was able to exit the aircraft unscathed.
The incident
According to local authorities, the aircraft went down near SE 119th Street and Sooner Road at around 2:42 p.m. local time. The causes are still unknown, with some sources reporting a possible engine failure, and an investigation is now ongoing.
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The aircraft departed from Will Rogers International Airport, where is operated by a partnership between the 492nd and 137th Special Operations Wings of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and Oklahoma Air National Guard (ANG), respectively.
What appears to be a L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II with the Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 185th Special Operations Squadron, based out of Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, has crashed this afternoon near Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. pic.twitter.com/5LVIGrf7Rx
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 23, 2025
The Oklahoma ANG confirmed that no injuries were reported to the crew, which included a civilian contractor and a U.S. Air Force active duty service member. Both the aircraft and crew are assigned to the 492nd SOW.
An active duty aircraft from the 492nd Special Operations Wing operating out of Will Rogers crashed earlier today. This is not an Oklahoma Air National Guard aircraft or crew.
Due to proximity and partnership, the Oklahoma National Guard is assisting with communications. pic.twitter.com/JzILZD8mYp
— Okla. National Guard (@OKGuard) October 23, 2025
Open-source flight tracking showed that the aircraft, serial 22-0009, was flying at low altitude with the callsign “ZORRO75,” with the incident happening south-west of Tinker Air Force Base.
OA-1K 22-0009 crashed shortly after taking off from Will Rogers World Airport.
There are no reported injuries.#AAF024 #ZORRO75 https://t.co/9X0F8vIUb2 pic.twitter.com/GUX7Kc3LaQ
— Nick H. ✈︎ (@N214WN) October 23, 2025
According to recorded radio communications, ZORRO 75 called a may day on the Oklahoma City Approach frequency shortly before crashing.
This is BS.. why is the richest country in the world flying single engine crop duster planes like they’re a third word country? I do not envy these people and I pray for them. pic.twitter.com/CW3AUDscSW
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) October 24, 2025
Another Skyraider II, ZORRO 55, was flying in the area and immediately headed to ZORRO 75’s location to assist.
AT-802U Sky Warden (Air Tractor L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II) with the 17th Special Operations Squadron that operates out of Will Rogers International Airport has crashed near SW 119th and Sooner Road in Moore. OKC FD has responded. Initial report: both crew are ok. pic.twitter.com/uE2HmDDdyj
— Michael Armstrong (@KOCOMichael) October 23, 2025
A video emerged on social media, reportedly recorded by the onboard cameras of a Tesla car, shows the aircraft skimming the nearby road during the forced landing, barely missing the passing car.
Some crazy footage from what seems to be a Tesla dashcam found on TikTok of this incident. Username is mtopchian1 https://t.co/AiLWfkWZOq pic.twitter.com/8RT01UTzva
— TieDye Intel (@TieDyeIntel) October 24, 2025
Judging by the video and the photos of the aftermath, the aircraft might have impacted the power lines near an intersection after touching down, ending its run with a 90° left turn.
The images from the crash site show extensive damage to the left wing – almost sheared off, collapsed right landing gear, bent propeller and possibly damage to the right wing – which appears to be touching the ground. Notably, the aircraft took away with it a stop sign which was at the road intersection.
Well he blew right past that stop sign https://t.co/xILDjKRexi pic.twitter.com/W01XEYtXla
— Intelschizo (@Schizointel) October 24, 2025
Precedents
This is the first reported incident of the missionized OA-1K Skyraider II since it was first delivered in April 2025. However, in November 2024, an AT-802U, upon which the Skyraider II is based and used by the service for training the future OA-1K crews, reportedly overshot the runway.
The incident resulted in light damage to the aircraft, including a propeller strike. The aircraft, serial 22-0007 and assigned to the Oklahoma ANG, has since been repaired and returned to flight.
Skyraider II
The OA-1K, a variant of the AT-802U, was the winner of Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch contract in 2022. The airplane beat out the Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine, Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, and PZL’s M28B 1R Bryza.
The purpose of the contract was to outfit AFSOC with a small airframe for Close Air Support (CAS), strike, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The aircraft are built in Olney, Texas, and outfitted for the armed overwatch mission in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
According to Air Tractor, the AT-802U is equipped with eight wing-mounted hardpoints capable of carrying 500-pound (227 kg) munitions, plus two centerline stations for 1,000-pound (454 kg) weapons, giving it a total payload capacity of 8,000 pounds (3,629 kg). The inner hardpoints are optimized for externally-mounted guns, with calibers ranging from .50 caliber to 20 mm. The aircraft features a two-person cockpit, armored engine and fuel tanks, self-sealing fuel cells, and a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F engine.
A key advantage of the Skyraider II is its low operating cost. Air Tractor reports that its cost per flying hour is in the hundreds of dollars—far lower than the thousands or even tens of thousands per hour for existing U.S. Air Force aircraft performing similar missions. Beyond its military role, the AT-802 has an extensive track record in crop dusting, aerial firefighting, and drug interdiction.
The OA-1K will supplement the U-28A Draco, a single-engine counter-insurgency (COIN) and ISR platform based on the Pilatus PC-12. The U.S. Air Force currently operates the Draco under two Wings: the 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida, and the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. While the Skyraider II is set to take over many of its roles, the U-28A will continue operating in a limited capacity.
