Piper PA-38-112 accident near Wadsworth, Ohio, April 23, 1983
On April 23, 1983 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N2607B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wadsworth, Ohio (Wadsworth airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 23, 1983 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Wadsworth, Ohio · Wadsworth · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2607B · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE PASSENGER, WHO WAS BUILDING AN ULTRALIGHT ACFT, WAS IN THE LEFT SEAT & WAS BEING FAMILIARIZED WITH FLT PROCEDURES. THE INSTRUCTOR DETERMINED THAT THE WINDS AT AN UNCONTROLLED ARPT WERE LIGHT FROM 160 DEG. HE MADE 3 CALLS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY, BUT GOT NO REPLY, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RWY 19. WHILE ON A SHORT FINAL HE NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT LANDING FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. REPORTEDLY, THE INSTRUCTOR INITIATED A GO-AROUND & STARTED A TURN TO AVOID A COLLISION. HE STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE, WHICH MADE FURTHER STABILIZED FLIGHT IMPOSSIBLE. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE LANDED IN A PLOWED FIELD TO AVOID FLYING INTO TREES. HOWEVER, AT THE LAST MOMENT DURING THE LANDING, THE RIGHT WING DIPPED & HIT THE GROUND.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 360 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 225 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,161 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 17, 1982; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CAK Akron OH at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,535 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.