Piper PA-18 accident near Hardin, Michigan, August 13, 1982
On August 13, 1982 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N83620, was destroyed in an accident near Hardin, Michigan. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- August 13, 1982 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hardin, Michigan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N83620 · registry record · serial 187709086
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE WRECKAGE WAS FOUND 3/4 MI WEST OF THE NW END OF A FARM RWY IN THE APPROXIMATE POSITION OF WHERE A RIGHT TURN WOULD OCCUR FROM THE DOWNWIND LEG TO THE BASE LEG OF A RIGHT PATTERN TO THE SE RWY. THE WRECKAGE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF A RIGHT ROTATIONAL MOMENT AT IMPACT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE ACFT MAKING SEVERAL TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. AT THAT TIME THE PLT WAS OBSERVED IN THE REAR SEAT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE PLT WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT.
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: 524 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 478 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 854 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,625 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hardin MI at 9:00 am
- Destination: Hardin MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 167°F (75°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.