Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania, April 13, 1983
On April 13, 1983 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N2943F, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chester, Pennsylvania (Brandywine 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
- April 13, 1983 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- West Chester, Pennsylvania · Brandywine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N2943F · no longer on the register · serial 24R918232
- 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 DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, SOME OSCILLATION IN THE CONTROLS FOR THE NOSEWHEEL STEERING WAS NOTED. AT ABOUT 45 KTS, HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON THE NOSEWHEEL AS HE HAD DONE IN THE PAST. HE REPORTED THAT SINCE HE WAS ONLY 65 INCHES TALL, HIS FORWARD VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED AFTER BACK PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. AT ROTATION SPEED, HE CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AHEAD. HE TRIED TO LIFT OFF & CLEAR OVER THE EQUIPMENT, BUT ABOUT 1 SECOND AFTER ROTATING, HE HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE THE NOSE GEAR LOCKING IN PLACE. HE CONTINUED THE CLIMB & WAS ADVISED THAT THE LEFT WING TIP HAD STRUCK THE EQUIPMENT. HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT & LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. REPORTEDLY, THE ACFT STRUCK A PIECE OF DITCH DIGGING EQUIPMENT THAT HAD BEEN PARKED APRX 8 FT FROM THE LEFT EDGE OF THE RWY.
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: 252 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 984 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1983; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N99 West Chester PA
- Destination: 1N9 Allentown PA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,010 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°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.