Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Zanesville, Ohio, November 25, 1983
On November 25, 1983 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N41873, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zanesville, Ohio (Zanesville Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 25, 1983 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Zanesville, Ohio · Zanesville Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N41873 · no longer on the register · serial 28R7435222
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING ZANESVILLE, OH, THE ACFT WAS AT 2500 FT MSL WHEN THE ENG BEGAN TO 'KNOCK'. THE COCKPIT FILED WITH SMOKE & THE ENG BEGAN TO LOSE OIL. THE PLT TURNED BACK TO LAND AT THE ARPT. HE REPORTED THAT THE ENG CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 3/4 OF THE WAY ON A DOWNWIND FOR RWY 22. AT THAT POINT, THE ENG FAILED. THE PLT MADE A FORCED LANDING APRX 1000 FT SHORT OF THE RWY. THE GROUND CONDITIONS WERE SOFT & THE GEAR COLLIDED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE #3 PISTON HAD FAILED & THE #3 CYLINDER WAS HEAVILY GROOVED. THE #3 CYLINDER (CHROME) HAD BEEN INSTALLED APPRX 40 FT HRS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. ONE OF THE RINGS IN THE #3 PISTON WAS CHROME. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, CHROME PLATED RINGS SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN CHROME PLATED CYLINDERS. AN UNAUTHORIZED, CHAMPION EM-41E, HOT RUNNING SPARK PLUG WAS USED IN THE #3 CYLINDER. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE INITIAL PISTON FAILURE WAS A DOME BURN THRU FROM DETONATION ON PRE-IGNITION.
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: 1,025 hours in all; 612 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 913 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1983; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Xenia OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 15 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from ZZV
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.
Other NTSB records under N41873 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.