Piper PA-31-350 accident near Richmond, Virginia, July 27, 1983
On July 27, 1983 at about 3:29 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N63737, was substantially damaged in an accident near Richmond, Virginia (Byrd International airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 27, 1983 · about 3:29 am local time
- Place
- Richmond, Virginia · Byrd International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N63737 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7742059
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A POWER LOSS ON AN APPROACH TO RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. THE FLT HAD BEEN OPERATING 4 HOURS, INCLUDING 7 TAKEOFFS, SINCE REFUELING. AFTER THE ACCIDENT BOTH PROPELLERS WERE FOUND IN THE FEATHERED POSITION. THE RIGHT WING FUEL SYSTEM REMAINED INTACT. ABOUT ONE PINT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THIS SYSTEM. THE LEFT WING FUEL SYSTEM RECEIVED DAMAGED WHICH PRECLUDED A DETERMINATION OF ITS FUEL QUANTITY. A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE QUICK DRAIN FILTERS, AND THE FUEL LINE TO THE RIGHT ENGINE. THE LEFT FUEL LINE FROM THE PUMP TO THE ENGINE WAS BROKEN. THERE WAS NO ODOR OF FUEL, FUEL STAINS OR DISCOLORATION OF FOLIAGE AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,875 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 8,800 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,899 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 1983; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORF Norfolk VA at 3:03 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 8,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 220° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds; clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from RIC, 1 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.