Piper PA-28B-150 accident near Watford City, North Dakota, September 12, 1983
On September 12, 1983 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28B-150, registered N5821W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Watford City, North Dakota. 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
- September 12, 1983 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Watford City, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28B-150 · all PA-28B-150s on the register
- Registration
- N5821W · registry record · serial 28-2033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DUE TO WEATHER. THE PLT HAD BEEN BRIEFED ON THE WEATHER THE EVENING BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT STATED THAT WHEN THE FLIGHT WAS 20 MINUTES FROM HOME HE 'THOUGHT WE COULD MAKE IT.' HOWEVER, HE DECIDED TO LAND ON A RANCH BELOW AND WAIT ON WEATHER IMPROVEMENT. DURING MANEUVERING TO LAND THE FOG WAS ENTERED AND THE ENGINE BEGAN LOSING POWER. THE PLT SAW THE GROUND AND STALL LANDED. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED DURING ROLLOUT.
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: 85 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 1, 1983; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y74 Parshall ND at 1:30 pm
- Destination: SDY Sidney MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 700 ft; scat at 300 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ISN, 20 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.
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.