Piper PA-32 300C accident near Buckeye, Arizona, June 1, 1983
On June 1, 1983 at about 9:00 am local time, a Piper PA-32 300C, registered N8926N, was destroyed in an accident near Buckeye, Arizona (Private Strip airport). 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
- June 1, 1983 · about 9:00 am local time
- Place
- Buckeye, Arizona · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32 300C · all PA-32 300Cs on the register
- Registration
- N8926N · no longer on the register · serial 32-40723
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE ABOUT 36 FT AGL LESS THAN A MILE NORTH OF A PRIVATE DIRT AIRSTRIP. THE ACFT HAD DEPARTED SCOTTSDALE MUNICIPAL ARPT AT ABOUT 0045. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT ABOUT 0200 APROXIMATELY 4 MILES WEST OF BUCKEYE,AZ. A WITNESS STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN WITH THE TWO OCCUPANTS OF THE ACFT WHEN THEY WERE DRINKING WITH HIM IN A LOCAL BAR. THE PLT HAD INVITED HIM AND THE GIRL TO FLY AND THE WITNESS DECLINED BUT THE 21 YEAR OLD FEMALE ACCEPTED. ANOTHER WITNESS SAW THEM DEPART THE ARPT AND SAID THE DEPARTURE WAS ABNORMAL WITH THE ACFT ALMOST COLLIDING INTO PARKED ACFT AND TAXIING 1500 FT ON THE RWY BEFORE ADDING FULL POWER TO TAKEOFF. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE FOUND AFTER THEACCIDENT WITH THEIR SEATBELTS UNFASTENED. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS STREWN ALONG A PATH 152 FT LONG ON A HEADING OF 024 DEGREES. BLOOD SUBMITTED FOR A TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION FROM THE PLT AND PASSENGER REVEALED A BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.15 PERCENT AND 0.07 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY. A 6 PACK OF BEER WAS FOUND NEAR THE ACFT WITH 5 OF THE CANS OPENED.
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 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,306 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 9, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 7:45 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 35 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 am from PHX, 43 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.