Piper PA-24-250 accident near Norwalk, Ohio, November 20, 1983
On November 20, 1983 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N6159P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norwalk, Ohio (Huron Company 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 20, 1983 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Norwalk, Ohio · Huron Company · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N6159P · no longer on the register · serial 24-160
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING WHILE ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE ENCOUNTERED TURBULENCE BELOW 3000 FT MSL. DURING THE HE ENCOUNTERED WIND SHEAR WHICH CAUSED HIM TO DROP 40 FT ONTO THE RWY. THE ACFT MANUAL STATES THAT 'IN HIGH WIND CONDITIONS AND CROSSWINDS IT MAY BE DESIRABLE TO APPROACH THE GROUND AT HIGHER THAN NORMAL SPEED WITH PARTIAL OR NO FLAPS.' HE MADE THIS APPROACH USING FULL FLAPS. ABOUT A HALF HOUR AFTER THE ACCIDENT CLEVELAND REPORTED A FRONTAL PASSAGE WITH WINDS FROM 170 DEGREES AT 20 KTS GUSTING TO 30 KTS.
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: 1,053 hours in all; 803 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 853 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 24, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8G4 Pittsburg PA at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,950 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from CLE, 33 miles away
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 N6159P 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.