American AA-1A and Piper PA-38-112 accident near Delaware, Ohio, October 7, 1983
On October 7, 1983 at about 11:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, American AA-1A (N9237L) and Piper PA-38-112 (N2333B), were involved in the same accident near Delaware, Ohio (Delaware Muni airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1983 · about 11:50 pm local time
- Place
- Delaware, Ohio · Delaware Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- American AA-1A · all AA-1As on the register
- Registration
- N9237L · no longer on the register · serial 0137
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2333B · registry record · serial 38-79A0013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the American AA-1A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF AMERICAN AA-1A, N9237L, DEPARTED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHILE TURNING BASE, BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC TAXING ON THE RWY. HE REENTER THE PATTERN ON DOWNWIND & CONTINUED HIS PATTERN, BUT DID NOT SEE A PIPER PA-38, N 2333B, THAT ENTERED THE PATTERN. THE PA-38 PILOT ALSO ENTERED THE DOWNWIND AFTER RETURNING FROM A ROUND ROBIN FLT. THE AA-1A PLT SAID THAT HE WAS ON A SHORT FINAL AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL, WHEN HE SAW HIS PROPELLER STRIKE THE TAIL OF THE PIPER. HE SLOWED HIS ACFT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PIPER, THEN THE AA-1A STALLED & HIT THE RWY NOSE 1ST. THE PIPER PLT SAID THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN, HE HEARD A NOISE & HIS ACFT BEGAN FISHTAILING. HE WAS UNAWARE THAT HIS ACFT HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER ACFT UNTIL HE WAS OFF THE RWY & ONTO A TAXIWAY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF AMERICAN AA-1A, N9237L, DEPARTED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHILE TURNING BASE, BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC TAXING ON THE RWY. HE RE-ENTER THE PATTERN ON DOWNWIND & CONTINUED, BUT DID NOT SEE A PIPER PA-38, N2333B, THAT ENTERED THE PATTERN. THE PA-38 PILOT ALSO ENTERED THE DOWNWIND AFTER RETURNING FROM A ROUND ROBIN FLT. THE AA-1A PLT SAID THAT HE WAS ON SHORT FINAL AT ABOUT 10 FT AGL, WHEN HE SAW HIS PROPELLER STIKE THE TAIL OF THE PIPER. HE SLOWED HIS ACFT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PIPER, THEN THE AA-1A STALLED & HIT THE RWY NOSE 1ST. THE PIPER PLT SAID THAT WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN, HE HEARD A NOISE & HIS ACFT BEGAN FISHTAILING. HE WAS UNAWARE THAT HIS ACFT HAD BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER ACFT UNTIL HE WAS OFF THE RWY & ONTO A TAXIWAY.
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 for the American AA-1A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH OBJECT during landing - flare/touchdown
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none
- Flight time: 33 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 180 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 11, 1983; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,465 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CMH Columbus OH at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°C, dew point 39°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from CMH, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- ON GROUND/WATER COLLISION WITH OBJECT during landing - flare/touchdown
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 53 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 900 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, September 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-LAC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,100 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI84LA013.