OA-1K Skyraider Crashes in Oklahoma, Crew Uninjured

An Air Force OA-1K Skyraider II crashed near Oklahoma City on Oct. 23, its civilian contractor and Air Force crew escaping uninjured. 

The Oklahoma National Guard announced the mishap on social media, but the aircraft and crew belong to the Air Force’s Active-duty 492nd Special Operations Wing, which operates out of Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, co-located at Will Rogers International Airport. 

The OA-1K was on a training mission when the crash occurred, less than 10 miles from the base. According to flight tracking data posted online, the crash took place shortly after takeoff. The cause is under investigation. 

Images captured by local reporters and planespotters show the OA-1K suffered damage to its wing and nose section, apparently after striking a utility pole.

Unconfirmed video posted on TikTok shows the aircraft flying extremely low, crossing just above the surface of a road, forcing a driver to swerve. 

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

This appears to be the first mishap involving the OA-1K, a new entry to the Air Force inventory. Acquired for the “Armed Overwatch” mission, the propeller-driven Air Tractor aircrat is a modified cropduster adapted for light attack, ISR, and other missions conducted by Air Force Special Operations Command. The service accepted its first plane in early April. 

L3Harris is modifying and “missionizing” the OA-1k, adding required

military equipment. The OA-1K is unique in the Air Force fleet as a “tail-dragger,” with a tail wheel instead of a nose wheel. 

An AFSOC spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine in June that test crews were flying the aircraft and the initial cadre of instructor pilots would begin training aircrew for operational units in fiscal 2026, which began Oct. 1.

The 492nd Special Operations Wing will fly the OA-1K mainly from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. However, the Oklahoma Guard’s 137th Special Operations Wing will serve as the training unit and “schoolhouse” for the aircraft.