Piper PA-28-151 accident near Trinity Center, California, March 19, 1983
On March 19, 1983 at about 8:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N41576, was destroyed in an accident near Trinity Center, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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
- March 19, 1983 · about 8:00 am local time
- Place
- Trinity Center, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N41576 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415280
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT DEPARTED CRESWELL, OR, SOMETIME AFTER 1800 PST ON 3/19/83. AT 2110 PST, THE PLT CONTACTED PORTLAND FLT WATCH BY RADIO & STATED THAT HE WAS OVER ROSEBURG, OR AT 9500 FT. HE REQUESTED PIREPS OF WX OVER THE SISKIYOU MOUNTAINS & INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. FLT WATCH ADVISED THAT THE MEDFORD, OR WX WAS ESTIMATED 8000 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 10 MI & THAT A PLT HAD REPORTED THAT CONDITIONS FROM REDMOND, OR TO RED BLUFF, CA, AT 9500 FT, WERE CLEAR & SMOOTH. THE PLT REPLIED THAT HE WAS HAVING A SMOOTH RIDE, ON TOP, & THAT THERE WAS 'A LITTLE BIT OF BUILDUPS TO THE WEST.' THERE WERE NO FURTHER TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE ACFT. WHEN THE ACFT DID NOT ARRIVE AT ITS DESTINATION, A SEARCH WAS INITIATED. IT WAS FOUND BY HIKERS ON 8/15/83 WHERE IT HAD CRASHED IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN WHILE IN A STEEP DIVE. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, SEARCH PERSONNEL COULD NOT GET INTO THE AREA DUE TO LOW CLOUDS, RAIN & SNOW. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF A PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.
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: 300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 775 Creswell OR
- Destination: HWD Hayward CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded; 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.