Piper PA-28-161 accident near Avalon, California, January 3, 1983
On January 3, 1983 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2239M, was destroyed in an accident near Avalon, California (Catalina airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were 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
- January 3, 1983 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Avalon, California · Catalina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2239M · no longer on the register · serial 287816259
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED DURING AN ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND AT CATALINA ISLAND. THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE FATALLY INJURED ANDTHE TWO REAR SEAT PASSENGERS RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. THE PILOT HAD NOT HAD THE SPECIFIED THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WITHIN THE PRECEDING 90 DAYS AS REQUIRED BY FAR 61.75(C). THE PILOT APPLIED POWER FOR GO-AROUND WHEN HE WAS OVER HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD BEEN ADVISED TO USE RUNWAY 4 BY UNICOM BUT HE USED RUNWAY 22. THE WIND WAS FROM 040 DEGREES AT 11 KTS. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE FLAPS WERE FOUND POSITIONED IN THE FULL DOWN POSITION.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 511 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 391 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,871 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 15, 1982; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Peninsula Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: TOA Torrence CA at 7:45 pm
- Destination: AVX Avalon CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,240 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.