Piper PA-44-180T accident near Davis, California, February 9, 1983
On February 9, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-44-180T, registered N83223, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davis, California (Yolo County airport). It was an instructional 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
- February 9, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Davis, California · Yolo County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-44-180T · all PA-44-180Ts on the register
- Registration
- N83223 · no longer on the register · serial 44-8107036
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PRACTICING A SIMULATED SINGLE ENG CONDITION, THE STUDENT TURNED TOWARD THE ARPT. THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) STATED THAT THE STUDENT TREATED THE SIMULATED EMERGENCY LIKE HE WOULD FOR LOSS OF POWER IN A SINGLE ENG ACFT; I.E., HE TURNED TO THE NEAREST RWY WHICH WAS DOWNWIND. ALSO, THE STUDENT FORGOT TO EXTEND THE GEAR. THE CFI WAS AWARE OF THE SITUATION, BUT ELECTED TO WAIT UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF THE APPROACH TO SEE IF THE STUDENT WOULD REALIZE HIS MISTAKES. THE CFI HAD FOUND THIS TECHNIQUE OF TEACHING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST. HOWEVER, HE REPORTED THAT HE BECAME DISTRACTED & ALLOWED THE STUDENT TO FORGET TO LOWER THE LANDING GEAR. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE STUDENT LANDED WITH THE GEAR RETRACTED.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,567 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 71 in the last 90 days; 1,520 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-E1A6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SAC Sacramento CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.