Piper PA-28-140 accident near Palm Springs, California, October 2, 1982
On October 2, 1982 at about 6:58 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N7537R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palm Springs, California (Palm Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- October 2, 1982 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Palm Springs, California · Palm Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N7537R · registry record · serial 28-22099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE NOSE OF A CESSNA 337, N547SE, WHICH SPUN TO THE LEFT AND DAMAGED A PIPER PA-28, N8163E. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE CESSNA 337 WAS 3 1/2 FEET BEYOND ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER AIRCRAFT AND EXTENDED INTO THE TAXIWAY.
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: 159 hours in all; 159 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 130 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,603 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PSP Palm Springs CA
- Destination: San Diego
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 700 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 203°F (95°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.