Piper PA-32-300 accident near Palm Springs, California, January 18, 1983
On January 18, 1983 at about 8:54 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N5208S, was destroyed in an accident near Palm Springs, California (Palm Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed and 1 person was 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 18, 1983 · about 8:54 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Palm Springs
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N5208S · registry record · serial 32-40900
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED DURING TAKEOFF AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER. AFTER HE WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF THE PILOT STARTED DOWN THE RUNWAY. AT THE RUNWAYS END ACCORDING TO A SURVIVING PASSENGER THE PILOT SAID WE ARE IN TROUBLE. HE CALLED THE TOWER TO SAY HE WAS HAVING A PROBLEM AND THEN DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY OR TAXI STRIP. WITNESSES LOCATED ON THE GROUND INCLUDING THE SURVIVING WITNESS REPORTED THAT IT APPEARED THE AIRCRAFT STALLED DURING A RIGHT TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT. POST CRASH INSPECTION DID NOT REVEAL ANY MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE OR ANY OF ITS ASSOCIATED COMPONENTS.
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: 290 hours in all; 290 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,384 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1982; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP CA at 8:54 pm
- Destination: GUY Guymas
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 12, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.