Piper PA-18A-150 accident near Collegeville, Pennsylvania, June 12, 1983
On June 12, 1983 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18A-150, registered N783L, was destroyed in an accident near Collegeville, Pennsylvania (Perkiomen Valley airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- June 12, 1983 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Collegeville, Pennsylvania · Perkiomen Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18A-150 · all PA-18A-150s on the register
- Registration
- N783L · no longer on the register · serial 18-5520
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO ENTER A STEEP CLIMB AFTER MAKING A SHORT TAKEOFF ROLL. ONE WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE TAKEOFF ROLL WAS ABOUT 400 FT & THEN THE ACFT ENTERED A CLIMB AT APRX A 35 DEG ANGLE. AFTER REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 200 TO 300 FT, THE ACFT WAS OBSERVE TO ENTER A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE & CRASH. AN INSPECTION OF THE ACFT & ENG WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT/MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURES WERE VERIFIED.
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: 970 hours in all; 919 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,323 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 1983; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Avco Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Langhorne PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,870 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from ABE, 27 miles away
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.