Piper PA-22-160 accident near Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania, August 16, 1982
On August 16, 1982 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N3732Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania (Skyhaven airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 16, 1982 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania · Skyhaven · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N3732Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-7611
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A LANDING IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS HIGH ON FINAL APPROACH, SO THE PILOT ADDED FLAPS AND SLIPPED THE PLANE TO LOSE ALTITUDE. HE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1000 FT DOWN THE 2000 FT RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER LANDING, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THEY SEEMED TO FAIL. HE INTENTIONALLY GROUND LOOPED THE PLANE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY TO KEEP IT FROM GOING OVER A BANK AND INTO A TRAILER PARK. DURING THE MANEUVER, THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.
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: 3,700 hours in all; 3,300 in this make and model; 64 in the last 90 days; 3,466 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,552 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,840 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RDG Reading PA at 5:25 pm
- Destination: Antoine AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 176°F (80°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.