Piper PA-28-161 accident near St. Charles, Missouri, October 25, 1982
On October 25, 1982 at about 10:25 am local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8184Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Charles, Missouri (St. Charles airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- October 25, 1982 · about 10:25 am local time
- Place
- St. Charles, Missouri · St. Charles · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8184Y · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016218
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT CRASHED ON THE NORTH BOUNDARY OF THE ARPT WITHIN MINUTES AFTER HAVING BEEN SEEN DEPARTING RWY 27. DENSE GROUND FOG PREVAILED AT THE CRASH SITE. APPROXIMATELY 1-1/2 HOURS AFTER THE ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DISCLOSD VERY HEAVY FROST ON ALL ACFT PARKED ADJACENT TO THE SPOT WHERE THE ACFT HAD BEEN SEEN PARKED FOR TWO DAYS. ACCORDING TO THE PERSON WHO DROVE THE PLT TO THE ARPT THERE WAS FROST ON THE ACFT WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE ARPT. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE PLT REMOVE FROST FROM ANY PART OF THE ACFT EXCEPT THE WINDSHIELD. THE CARBURETOR HEAT VALVE WAS FOUND JAMMED IN THE FULL HOT POSITION. ACCORDING TO ENGINEERING DATA OBTAINED FROM PIPER THE HEAT RISE OF THE CARB HEAT SYSTEM IS 129 DEG F AT 75% POWER & 28 DEG F AMBIENT AIR TEMP. THE POWER LOSS DUE TO CARB HEAT IS 1% FOR EACH 10 DEG HEAT RISE.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 618 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 455 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 35Q St. Charles MO
- Destination: Ft. Riley KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 270° at 5 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.