Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Calexico, California, September 4, 1983
On September 4, 1983 at about 11:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N56283, was substantially damaged in an accident near Calexico, California (Calexico airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 4, 1983 · about 11:45 pm local time
- Place
- Calexico, California · Calexico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N56283 · registry record · serial 7335-399
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENG BEGAN TO MISS AT APRX 300 FT AGL & HE FELT A DEFINITE LOSS OF POWER. HE TRIED TO RAISE THE GEAR, BUT THE AIRSPEED WAS BELOW THE AUTOMATIC GEAR EXTENSTION SPEED, SO THE GEAR DID NOT RETRACT. HE REPOSITIONED THE GEAR HANDLE TO THE DOWN POSITON & THE WARNING HORN, WHICH HAD SOUNDED, STOPPED. THE PLT WAS ABLE TO FLY THE ACFT OVER SOME WIRES, BUT COULD NOT GET THE ACFT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A LANDING IN A SOFT FARM FIELD. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK AT A UNION JOINT IN THE LINE FROM THE LEFT WING. NO OTHER PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WAS EVIDENT. HOWEVER, THE GROSS WEIGHT WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN APRX 87 LBS OVER THE MAX LIMIT. ALSO, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS APRX 3500 FT (TEMP ABOUT 110 DEG).
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 545 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 62 in the last 90 days; 440 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,649 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 28, 1983; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: LHU Lake Havasue AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 26, 4,330 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 109°F (43°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 pm from IPL, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.