An OA-1K Skyraider II from the United States Air Force made a forced landing in a field near Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma this Thursday (23).
The aircraft hit the ground, striking two power poles and causing a small fire in the grass, but both crew members — one active-duty military and one civilian contractor — were unharmed.
The aircraft, serial number 22-0009, had taken off for a training mission and lost speed and altitude just minutes after takeoff. During the incident, the pilots declared an emergency (“mayday”), and another Skyraider II aircraft in the area immediately went to assist.
Social media images show the aircraft scraping a nearby road during the forced landing, narrowly missing a car. The damage includes the left wing nearly torn off, a dented propeller, a collapsed right landing gear, and possibly damage to the right wing.
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 OA-1K Skyraider II is a militarized version of the Air Tractor AT-802 agricultural sprayer, developed for light attack missions, close air support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). The two-seat aircraft has a payload capacity of up to 2,722 kg, including bombs and guided missiles, as well as sensor systems mounted on pods, and can remain on patrol for up to six hours over an area of up to 320 km. Its low operational cost and ability to operate from irregular fields are considered important advantages.
The model, officially named Skyraider II in February 2025, is being introduced into the USAF inventory, with plans to acquire 75 units. This is the first reported incident involving the aircraft since the delivery of the first units in April 2025. The OA-1K will complement the U-28A Draco in counter-insurgency and ISR roles, although the latter will remain in limited service.
Source: The Aviationist / The War Zone | Photo: Instagram @redhomeaviation | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
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