Piper PA-38-112 accident near Dixie, Washington, July 11, 1983
On July 11, 1983 at about 9:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N4461E, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dixie, Washington. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 11, 1983 · about 9:25 pm local time
- Place
- Dixie, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N4461E · no longer on the register · serial 28-78A0614
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER DEPARTURE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH.THE PILOT DID A MAGNETO CHECK AND NOTED A DROP OF 300 RPM. A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WAS MADE INTO A FIELD OF TALL WHEAT.DURING LANDING ROLL THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCK A HOLE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE BOTTOM PLUGS WERE FOULED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 13 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 19, 1982; 131 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MHW Moses Lake WA at 8:10 pm
- Destination: LWS Lewiston ID
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Observation at 9:54 pm from ALW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.