Piper PA-28-181 accident near Dodgeville, Wisconsin, October 16, 1983
On October 16, 1983 at about 2:35 am local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N8419G, was destroyed in an accident near Dodgeville, Wisconsin (Dodgeville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 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
- October 16, 1983 · about 2:35 am local time
- Place
- Dodgeville, Wisconsin · Dodgeville
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N8419G · no longer on the register · serial 28-8190290
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
MOMENTARILY AFTER LIFTING OFF, THE PLT HEARD A PRONOUNCED DECREASE IN ENG NOISE & NOTED THAT THE TACHOMETER INDICATION HAD DROPPED TO 1950 RPM. HE ELECTED TO ABORT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE REMAINING RWY. AFTER DEPARTING THE RWY, THE ACFT HIT AN OBJECT & RAN INTO A RAVINE BEFORE COMING TO REST. AN EXAM OF THE MARVELL SHEBLER CARBURETOR, MODEL MA4SPA, REVEALED A LEAK IN THE GASKET, PN 16-A48. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THIS WOULD RESULT IN PARTIAL FUEL STARVATION.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 359 hours in all; 95 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 239 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 879 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1983; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: C81 Grayslake IL
- Flight plan: VFR then IFR
- Runway 30, 2,740 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 am from MSN, 25 miles away
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.