Piper PA-32R-301T accident near Peach Springs, Arizona, November 19, 1983
On November 19, 1983 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-301T, registered N8178W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peach Springs, Arizona (Hualapi airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 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
- November 19, 1983 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Peach Springs, Arizona · Hualapi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-301T PA-32R-301 · all PA-32R-301Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8178W · no longer on the register · serial 8029073
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
REPORTEDLY, THE WIND WAS VARIABLE & GUSTY WHEN THE ACFT TOOK OFF FROM THE HUALAPAI ARPT, PEACH SPRINGS, AZ. THE PLT REPORTED THAT AFTER ROTATING FOR TAKEOFF, THE ACFT MOVED LATERALLY TO THE LEFT, AND AS HE WAS CORRECTING FOR THE MOVEMENT, THE LEFT MAIN GEAR CONTACTED SOMETHING. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A BERM BESIDE THE DIRT RWY. HE LEFT THE GEAR EXTENDED & FLEW TO KINGMAN WHERE HE MADE AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING. AN EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR HAD BEEN PUSHED AFT, THE FORWARD & AFT SPARS OF THE LEFT WING WERE TWISTED & THE LEFT WING SKIN HAD POPPED RIVETS & WRINKLES ON THE TOP & BOTTOM. THE PLT REPORTED THE WINDS WERE GUSTING FROM CALM TO 15 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,345 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 302 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 830 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 14, 1983; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: P06 Bullhead City AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 23, 3,972 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.