Piper PA28-140 accident near Middle Bass Isl, Ohio, July 10, 1983
On July 10, 1983 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA28-140, registered N33544, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middle Bass Isl, Ohio (Middle Bass Is. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- July 10, 1983 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Middle Bass Isl, Ohio · Middle Bass Is.
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-140 · all PA28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N33544 · no longer on the register · serial 28-752505
- 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 WIRES DURING A GO-AROUND ATTEMPT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AS HE APPROACHED AT ABOUT 10-15 FT AGL SOME PEOPLE WALKED ONTO THE RWY. HE ADDED FULL POWER AND WHILE GAINING CONTROL OF THE ACFT IT COLLIDED WITH THE WIRES AND CRASHED INTO THE LAKE. THE PASSENGERS IN THE ACFT STATED THAT THEY SAW THE PEOPLE WALK TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE RWY. THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND OBSERVED THE ACFT CIRCLE AND APPROACH ON A 45 DEGREE ANGLE FAR NORTH OF THE RWY. THE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND DENY WALKING TOWARD THE CENTER OF OR ONTO THE RWY.
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: 1,057 hours in all; 975 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 960 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,050 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AKR Akron OH at 7:05 pm
- Destination: OH11 Middle Bass Is. OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 7, 1,750 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.