Piper PA28-151 accident near Alma, Michigan, June 26, 1983
On June 26, 1983 at about 1:35 pm local time, a Piper PA28-151, registered N41341, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alma, Michigan (Gratiot Community airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- June 26, 1983 · about 1:35 pm local time
- Place
- Alma, Michigan · Gratiot Community · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-151 · all PA28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N41341 · no longer on the register · serial 287415178
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE VASI LIGHTS DURING LANDING. THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RWY 27 WITH WINDS FROM 210 DEGREES AT 12 KTS. HE REPORTED GUSTY WINDS BUT GAVE NO ESTIMATED VELOCITY OF THE GUSTS. HE SAID HE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR WITH THE LEFT WING HIGH. A GUST OF WIND REPORTEDLY CAUSED THE LEFT WING TO RISE. THE ACFT THEN 'ANGLED' OFF THE RWY AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A VASI LIGHT.
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: 149 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,194 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 11, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.