Piper PA-28-161 accident near Lake Wales, Florida, March 19, 1982
On March 19, 1982 at about 2:05 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8330B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Wales, Florida (Chalet Suzanne airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people had minor injuries. 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
- March 19, 1982 · about 2:05 am local time
- Place
- Lake Wales, Florida · Chalet Suzanne · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8330B · registry record · serial 28 8116138
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON LIFTOFF THE STALL WARNING HORN SOUNDED. THE PILOT LEVELED THE ACFT TO BUILD UP AIRSPEED AND THE ENGINE BACKFIRED AND LOST RPM'S. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO SINK AND DRIFT LEFT. THE PILOT STATED HE APPLIED ALL RIGHT RUDDER BUT THE LEFT GEAR HIT THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED LEFT. THE PILOT SHUT OFF THE THROTTLE BEFORE IMPACT. THE PILOT STATED HE WAS INEXPERIENCED WITH THIS FIELD AND SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT IT.
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: 93 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 49 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 720 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Venice Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: X25 Lake Wales FL at 9:05 pm
- Destination: Venice FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 36, 2,450 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from ORL, 45 miles away
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.