Piper PA-28-181 accident near Redding, California, November 26, 1983
On November 26, 1983 at about 4:09 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N3204Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Redding, California (Redding Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 26, 1983 · about 4:09 pm local time
- Place
- Redding, California · Redding Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N3204Q · no longer on the register · serial 287790442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO START THE ACFT, THE STARTER WOULD NOT 'TURN THE ENG.' THINKING THAT THE OIL HAD CONGEALED, HE EXITED THE ACFT & 'PULLED THE PROP.' AT THAT TIME, THE ENG STARTED & THE PLANE BEGAN TO MOVE. THE PLT JUMPED ON THE RIGHT WING & ATTEMPTED TO GET IN THE COCKPIT TO SHUT DOWN THE ENG; HOWEVER, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A PIPER PA-23, N200SA BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO ENTER THE COCKPIT. THE PLT WAS 'KNOCKED OFF' OF THE RIGHT WING & WAS INJURED. AN EXAM REVEALED THAT THE STARTER GEAR WAS EXTENDED, THE RETAINER BUSHING WAS MISSING & CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE ROTATER SHAFT. ALSO, THE MAGNETO SWITCH WAS FOUND IN THE 'BOTH' POSITION, THE FUEL BOOST PUMP WAS FOUND ON 'HIGH' & THE THROTTLE WAS 3/4 OPEN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,373 hours in all; 403 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PDT Portland OR
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:15 pm from RDD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.