Piper PA-32-300 accident near Van Wert, Ohio, March 30, 1982
On March 30, 1982 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N2866M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Van Wert, Ohio (Van Wert Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 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
- March 30, 1982 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Van Wert, Ohio · Van Wert Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N2866M · registry record · serial 327940166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND HAD A PRIVATE, SINGLE-ENGINE-LAND, CERTIFICATE. THE OCCUPANT OF THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT WAS A COMMERCIAL, SINGLE-ENGINE-LAND, PILOT. THE LANDING APPROACH WAS MADE TO RUNWAY 27. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND ESTIMATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM 220 DEGREES AT 16 GUSTING 20 KNOTS. HE REPORTED THAT DURING LANDING, THE GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS FORCED THE PLANE OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND INTO A DITCH. A PASSENGER STATED THAT DURING THE LANDING, THE PLANE BOUNCED, HIT THE STRIP A SECOND TIME, AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL.
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: 177 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 102 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Whitman Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: Green Bay WI at 8:00 am
- Destination: VNW Van Went OH
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.