Piper PA-28-180 accident near Kenai, Alaska, May 20, 1983
On May 20, 1983 at about 1:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7488W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kenai, Alaska (Arness Strip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- May 20, 1983 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Kenai, Alaska · Arness Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7488W · registry record · serial 28-1399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT ON A SHORT FINAL APPROACH HE ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR. THE PILOT ONLY HAD 5 HOURS IN THIS TYPE ACFTAND HAD LITTLE EXPERIENCE LANDING AT THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT. THIS FIELD HAS NO FACILITIES EXCEPT A WINDSOCK. IT ISBORDERED BY TREES TO THE SOUTH AND A LAKE TO THE NORTH. THE ACFT HAD THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TORN OFF AND THE LEFT WING DAMAGED IN THE ACCIDENT.
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: 116 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,199 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 1983; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ENA Kenai AK at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 1,700 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from ENA, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.