Piper PA-28-161 accident near Maxwell, California, May 15, 1983
On May 15, 1983 at about 1:10 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N2115R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Maxwell, California (Bell Strip 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
- May 15, 1983 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Maxwell, California · Bell Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N2115R · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CONTACTED MUSTARD GRASS ALONGSIDE THE AIRSTRIP AND SWERVED OFF TO THE RIGHT COLLAPSING THE NOSE GEAR. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TOUCHED DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 55 FT WIDE STRIP. IN SPITE OF THIS SOMEHOW HIS RIGHT WING TIP CAUGHT IN THE HIGH MUSTARD WEEDS AND THE ACFT WENT INTO A SIDEWAYS SKID. THENOSE GEAR HIT A SMALL EMBANKMENT AND COLLAPSED. THE PROPELLER WAS BENT AND THE COWLING DAMAGED. THE ACTIVE RUNWAY WAS 36AND THE WIND WAS FROM 320 DEGREES AT 11 KTS.
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: 400 hours in all; 375 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,701 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 5, 1983; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 008 Colusa CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,000 ft by 55 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 85 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 17,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:00 am from RBL, 52 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N2115R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.