Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Ely, Minnesota, February 25, 1983
On February 25, 1983 at about 5:08 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N38855, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ely, Minnesota (Ely Municipal airport). 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
- February 25, 1983 · about 5:08 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Minnesota · Ely Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N38855 · no longer on the register · serial 3600
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 2 MIN AFTER TAKEOFF, AT ABOUT 1,000 FT AGL, THE ENG SIEZED. THE PLT THEN GLIDED ONTO A FROZEN LAKE. THE ACFT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE LAST OIL CHANGE RECORDED WAS DURING THE ANNUAL ON 7/15/81. ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED SEVERE INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. CONRODS 1,2,3 & 4 WERE BURNED OUT & BROKEN AT THE CRANKSHAFT ENDS.
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: 900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 11 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,452 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 1981; 144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-KIG5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Lincoln NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 5,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°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.