Piper PA28-180C accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 27, 1983
On August 27, 1983 at about 10:16 pm local time, a Piper PA28-180C, registered N9428L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ann Arbor Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- August 27, 1983 · about 10:16 pm local time
- Place
- Ann Arbor, Michigan · Ann Arbor Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28-180C · all PA28-180Cs on the register
- Registration
- N9428L · registry record · serial 28.4295
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND HIT A RWY LIGHT DURING LANDING. THE WEATHER WAS VMC WITH A WIND FROM 320 DEGREES AT 10 KTS. THE ACTIVE RWY WAS 27. THE ATC SPECIALIST IN THE TOWER SAID 'THE ACFT APPEARED TO DIVE TOWARD THE RWY' AND 'TO HIT VERY HARD.' AFTER THE TOUCHDOWN THE ACFT VEERED LEFT AND HIT THE LIGHTS.
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: 140 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 60 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,440 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1983; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:47 pm from ARB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.