Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Tracy, California, June 23, 1983
On June 23, 1983 at about 2:00 am local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N7449J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tracy, California (Tracy Muni 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
- June 23, 1983 · about 2:00 am local time
- Place
- Tracy, California · Tracy Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7449J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30798
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT MADE A HARD LANDING WHILE ON AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLT. ON THE SEVENTH APPROACH FOR LANDING THE NOSE GEAR GREEN LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THE CFI CONTINUED THE APPROACH WHILE TAPPING ON THE BULB. WHEN HE DECIDED TO GO AROUND THE ACFT HAD DESCENDED SO LOW THAT IT IMPACTED THE RWY HARD ENOUGH TO BEND THE LEFT WING MAIN SPAR. A GO-AROUND AND LANDING WAS MADE AND THE ACFT RECEIVED NO FURTHER DAMAGE. THE NOSE GEAR LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE FOR THE FINAL LANDING.
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; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 6,433 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 6,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, November 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SJC San Jose CA at 1:15 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,418 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.