Piper PA-22 accident near Alexandria, Minnesota, April 16, 1983
On April 16, 1983 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N8034D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alexandria, Minnesota (Alexandria airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- April 16, 1983 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Alexandria, Minnesota · Alexandria
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8034D · registry record · serial 22-559
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AFTER HE HEARD A NOISE OR BANG WHICH HE THOUGHT WAS THE MUFFLER. THE PILOT MADE A DECISION TO LAND ON A RUNWAY WHICH HAD AN UNFAVORABLE WIND. CONTROL WAS LOST WHEN A GUST OF WIND RAISED THE LEFT WING. THE RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE GROUND AND AT ABOUT 10 MPH THE RT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED AN EXHAUST STUD CAME LOOSE WHICH ALLOWED EXHAUST GAS TO BLOW BY THE GASKET.
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: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,072 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 1,781 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1982; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 47Y Pelican Rapids MN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 4, 5,700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from AXN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.