Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Lone Pine, California, May 4, 1983
On May 4, 1983 at about 4:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N38607, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lone Pine, California (Saline Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- May 4, 1983 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lone Pine, California · Saline Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N38607 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7703251
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT OVERRAN THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH DURING LANDING. THE RUNWAY BEING USED WAS A PORTION OF AN UNUSED DIRT ROAD WHICH HAS NO SERVICE FACILITIES OR WIND INDICATORS. THE PILOT MADE TWO PASSES OVER THE AREA AND IN HIS STATEMENT HE SAID HE MISCALCULATED THE WIND AND TOUCHED DOWN TOO LATE TO ACCOMPLISH A LANDING WITHIN THE RUNWAY LENGTH. ACCORDING TO THE INYO COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THIS PORTION OF ROAD HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY USED AS A RUNWAY AT WARM SPRINGS.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 582 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 382 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,274 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 1982; 74 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BIH Bishop CA at 4:15 pm
- Destination: Saline Valley CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 1,300 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from BIH, 51 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.