Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Afton, Oklahoma, August 5, 1983
On August 5, 1983 at about 1:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N4643J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Afton, Oklahoma (Shangri-La airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. 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 5, 1983 · about 1:50 pm local time
- Place
- Afton, Oklahoma · Shangri-La · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4643J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30534
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LANDED 3 FT SHORT OF THE RWY ON AN INCLINED CONCRETE SLOPE. THE WEATHER WAS VMC. AT THE APPROACH TO THE RWY A CONCRETE EMBANKMENT SLOPES DOWNWARD ABOUT 10 FT TO A ROAD. THE ACFT HIT ON THIS EMBANKMENT BOUNCED AND SLID 75 FT DOWN THE RWY. DISCUSSIONS WITH THE ARPT MGR REVEALED THAT THE APPROACH IS VISUALLY DECEPTIVE DUE TO THE RISING CONCRETE WHICHIS THE SAME COLOR AS THE RWY. NEITHER THE PILOT OR OPERATOR FILED AN ACCIDENT REPORT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ICT Wichita KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 4,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°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.