Piper PA-32-300 accident near Kasilof, Alaska, January 24, 1983
On January 24, 1983 at about 11:40 am local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N4417X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kasilof, Alaska (Lawlers airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 24, 1983 · about 11:40 am local time
- Place
- Kasilof, Alaska · Lawlers · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4417X · no longer on the register · serial 32-7640020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT AS THE ACFT BEGUN TO CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER MOMENTARILY & THE RPM DROPPED FROM 2650 TO 2500. HE STARTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND COMMENTED TO THE PASSENGERS, 'WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT HER DOWN.' AT ABOUT THE TIME THE ARPT TOUCHED DOWN, THE ENGINE DEVELOPED FULL POWER. WITH MARGINAL STOPPING DISTANCE REMAINING ON THE SNOW COVERED RWY, THE PILOT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, THE PASSENGER IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT BRACED HIMSELF FOR A CRASH & INADVERTENTLY STEPPED ON THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT DEPARTED RIGHT SIDE OF THE RWY & HIT A DIRT BERM, 8 FT IN HEIGHT. NO SIGNIFICANT ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS WERE FOUND.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,134 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 30, 1983; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIAS (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bank Of America
The flight
- Destination: MRI Anchorage AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,700 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 5°F (-15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.