Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Russell, Kentucky, June 26, 1983
On June 26, 1983 at about 7:34 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N6982J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Russell, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were 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
- June 26, 1983 · about 7:34 pm local time
- Place
- Russell, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N6982J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7635370
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APRX 3 HRS & 19 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PLT MADE A RADIO TRANSMISSION, STATING THAT HE HAD RUN OUT OF FUEL. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD TAKEN OFF WITH 43 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD. DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING, THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AFTER LANDING, THE PLT REPORTEDLY FOUND SIGNS OF A BIRD STRIKE IN THE AIR SCOOP.
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: 199 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 132 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,562 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 49J Hilton Head SC at 4:10 pm
- Destination: 2I4 Columbus OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.