Piper PA-24-260 accident near Columbus, Ohio, November 18, 1983
On November 18, 1983 at about 1:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-260, registered N8921P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Ohio (Port Columbus Int'L airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- November 18, 1983 · about 1:20 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Ohio · Port Columbus Int'L
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-260 · all PA-24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N8921P · registry record · serial 24-4377
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT DURING THE PREFLT, HE VISUALLY CHECKED THE FUEL & ESTEMATED THAT THE LEFT TANK WAS APRX 1/4 FULL & THE RIGHT TANK WAS ABOUT 1/2 FULL. HE MADE HIS PRETAKEOFF CHECKS, BUT STAYED ON THE GROUND LONGER THAN NORMAL TO ALLOW THE OIL TO WARM UP. HE THEN BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF USING HIS LEFT FUEL TANK. AFTER CLIMBING TO ABOUT 75 FT, THE ENG SPUTTERED, THEN QUIT RUNNING. A GEAR UP LANDING WAS THEN MADE & THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP AT THE END OF THE RWY. ABOUT 1 QUART OF FUEL WAS DRAINED FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,231 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days; 1,138 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,252 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 11, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CVG Cincinnati OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 5,039 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 pm from CMH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8921P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.