Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Paradise Valley, Nevada, September 2, 1989
On September 2, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N83TL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Paradise Valley, Nevada (Paradise Valley airport). 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 PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, SOFT RUNWAY, AND FENCE WERE RELATED FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Paradise Valley, Nevada · Paradise Valley · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N83TL · registry record · serial 32R-768392
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM A 2000 FT, SOFT, DIRT RUNWWAY. DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THAT TIME WAS ABOUT 5440 FT. THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF NEAR THE END OF THE RUNWAY, BUT IT DID NOT CLEAR A FENCE & DIRT BERM AT THE DEPARTURE END.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: O37 Orland CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 95 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from WMC, 37 miles away
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.