- Date
- August 13, 1982, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hardin, MI
- Coordinates
- 45.6995, -107.6896 (estimated)
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N83620Piper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 13, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820813038029A
- Case key
- 70960
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The wreckage was found 3/4 mi west of the nw end of a farm rwy in the approximate position of where a right turn would occur from the downwind leg to the base leg of a right pattern to the se rwy. The wreckage showed evidence of a right rotational moment at impact. A witness observed the acft making several takeoffs & landings prior to the accident. At that time the plt was observed in the rear seat. At the time of the accident the plt was in the front seat.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N83620
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 187709086
- Airframe hours
- 854
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mike L. Mekling
- Registered owner
- Mike L. Mekling
- Departed
- Hardin, MI
- Destination
- Hardin, MI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 27
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 524 total · 480 in this make and model · 478 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Temperature
- 167 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.