Piper PA-28-180 accident near Delphi, Indiana, May 29, 1983
On May 29, 1983 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N3661R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delphi, Indiana (Delphi Muni 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
- May 29, 1983 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Delphi, Indiana · Delphi Muni
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3661R · no longer on the register · serial 28-5765
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LOCAL FLT, THE PLT NOTICED CLOUDS THAT LOOKED LIKE SMOKE APPROACHING THE ARPT FROM THE WEST. HE STATED THAT HE DECIDED TO LAND TO KEEP FROM LOSING VISIBILITY. THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING RWY 18 WITH A X-WIND FROM 270 DEG, HE HAD TO CRAB TO THE RIGHT. HE REPORTED THAT HE STAIGHTENED THE NOSE WITH LEFT RUDDER & RIGHT BANK. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND IN THE FLARE & THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE ACFT THEN WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 270 DEG AT 16 KTS. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, THE MAX DEMONSTRATED X-WIND FOR THIS ACFT WAS 15 MPH.
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: 97 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,695 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 1, 1983; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-AYA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1L9 Delphi IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,900 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft; scat
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.