Piper PA-28R-201T accident near Tehachapi, California, December 21, 1983
On December 21, 1983 at about 7:52 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201T, registered N47947, was destroyed in an accident near Tehachapi, California (Tehachapi airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was conditions the NTSB did not record.
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
- December 21, 1983 · about 7:52 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Tehachapi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- conditions the NTSB did not record
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201T PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N47947 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7803044
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND AFTER STALLING DURING A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN INTO CLOUDS. WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE INITIAL CLIMB ATTITUDE WAS 'VERY STEEP'. NO ONE OBSERVED THE CRASH BUT THE ENGINE RPM 'REVVED UP' TO A VERY HIGH RPM 4-5SECONDS PRIOR TO THE SOUND OF THE CRASH. THE GROUND SCARS AND THE WRECKAGE INDICATE THAT THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND IN ANEAR VERTICAL NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE ACFT CAME TO REST INVERTED ABOUT 66 FT FROM INITIAL IMPACT. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED NO PRE-IMPACT FAILURES OR MALFUNCTIONS IN EQUIPMENT. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE TO SHOW THAT THE PLT RECEIVED ANY WEATHER BRIEFING. THE VISIBILITY WAS ABOUT 2.5 SM AND THE CEILING WAS 600 FT OVERCAST. THERE WERE SNOW SHOWERS 1/2 MILE WEST OF THE ARPT.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360-F (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: TOA Torrance CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 4,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°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.