Piper PA-28-161 accident near Dexter, Michigan, November 19, 1983
On November 19, 1983 at about 9:26 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8162D, was destroyed in an accident near Dexter, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 19, 1983 · about 9:26 am local time
- Place
- Dexter, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8162D · registry record · serial 288016273
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT 2135 EST, THE PLT CALLED THE LANSING FSS & REQUESTED A WX FORCAST FOR THE DETROIT CITY ARPT & WINDS ALOFT. HE WAS BRIEFED, BUT HE DID NOT FILE A FLT PLAN, SOMETIME AFTER 2200 EST, HE TOOK OFF FORM MASON, MI ON A PASSENGER FLT TO ANN ARBOR, MI. AT 2252, THE PLT CALLED THE LANSING FSS & OBTAINED THE CURRENT LANSING WX. AFTER LANDING AT ANN ARBOR, TWO ADDITIONAL NIGHT, PASSENGER FLTS WERE MADE (TO THE DETROIT CITY ARPT & BACK TO ANN ARBOR). AFTER THE 2ND LANDING AT ANNN ARBOR (APRX 0200), THE PLT WENT TO A RESTAURANT 'FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.' AT APRX 0400, HE TOOK OFF ALONE ON A FLT BACK TO MASON. AT ABOUT 0426, THE ACFT CRASHED APRX 11.5 MI NW OF THE DEPARTURE ARPT. THE ACFT IMPACTED ON A WESTERLY HEADING IN AN ESTIMATED 58 DEG DESCENT. A WITNESS ABOUT 3/4 MI NNW OF THE CRASH SITE SAID THE ACFT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS ON A SE HEADING WHEN IT PASSED OVER HER HOME. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE. UNFAV WX, LOW CEILING, RAIN & FOG WAS FORMING. AT 0530, HVY FOG AT DEXTER. NO CURRENT MED CERT.
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: 83 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 29 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,115 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 17, 1983; 380 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARD Ann Arbor MI at 9:00 am
- Destination: 09G Mason MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Sky: broken clouds at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 am from JXN, 25 miles away
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.