Piper PA-38 accident near Imlay, Nevada, September 19, 1982
On September 19, 1982 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-38, registered N24641, was destroyed in an accident near Imlay, Nevada. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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 19, 1982 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Imlay, Nevada
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38 · all PA-38s on the register
- Registration
- N24641 · no longer on the register · serial 38-79AC711
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT FLEW UP A CANYON IN WEATHER THAT OBSCURED THE RIDGES IN LOW VISIBILITY AND RAIN. CLOUDS ALSO COVERED THE TERRAIN. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT DISAPPEAR BEHIND A HILL AND A STORM OBSCURED HER VISION AND HEARING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOCATED IN A BOX CANYON. THUNDERSTORMS AND HAIL WERE REPORTED IN THE AREA.
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: 103 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 76 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 618 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Carson City NV at 9:30 am
- Destination: Pershing Compan NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.