Piper PA-28-161 accident near Bainbridge, Georgia, June 5, 1992
On June 5, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N83453, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bainbridge, Georgia (Commodore (Closed) 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 PILOT'S MISJUDGED DISTANCE OF RUNWAY REMAINING, RESULTING IN A DELAYED DECISION TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH TREES. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES) AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bainbridge, Georgia · Commodore (Closed)
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N83453 · no longer on the register · serial 28-8116168
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE COMMERCIAL PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT A CLOSED AIRPORT NEAR HIS DESTINATION AFTER OBSERVING AN ENGINE OIL PRESSURE LOSS. AFTER LANDING, AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF AN OIL LOSS, AND A SUBSEQUENT ENGINE RUN ON THE GROUND SHOWED NORMAL OIL PRESSURE INDICATIONS. THE PILOT CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE INDICATING SYSTEM WAS AT FAULT, AND ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO HIS DESTINATION. HE PERFORMED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF DUE TO A SHORT RUNWAY LENGTH AND DEPARTURE END OBSTRUCTIONS (TREES). AT TAKEOFF SPEED, THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT ROTATE, AND THE PILOT ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. HE COULD NOT STOP THE AIRCRAFT IN THE REMAINING RUNWAY DISTANCE, AND THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE TREES. NO EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL.
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: 612 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 426 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,029 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 15, 1992; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bay Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: PFN Panama City FL at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DHN, 50 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.