Piper PA-28-140 accident near Buffalo, Oklahoma, August 30, 1983
On August 30, 1983 at about 2:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N9762W, was destroyed in an accident near Buffalo, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was 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 30, 1983 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Buffalo, Oklahoma
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N9762W · no longer on the register · serial 28-23246
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HIT THE GROUND WHILE TRYING TO STAY VFR UNDER LOW CEILINGS AT NIGHT. THE STUDENT PLT WAS RETURNING FROM A X-COUNTRY, FOR WHICH HE HAD NO BRIEFING ON THE WEATHER, WHEN THE WEATHER BECAME WORSE. THE STUDENT PLT CIRCUMNAVIGATED SOME OF THE THUNDERSTORMS BUT CONTINUED TO FLY LOWER. HE SAID A DOWNDRAFT FORCED HIM INTO THE GROUND IN A WHEATFIELD. THE ACFT CARTWHEELED AND WAS DESTROYED. THE PLT CRAWLED OVER A MILE FROM THE WRECKAGE WHERE HE WAS FOUND SERIOUSLY INJURED 3 DAYS LATER.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Q65 Raton NM
- Destination: 3K1 Alva OK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 030° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 am from GAG, 35 miles away
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.
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.