Indianapolis Terry Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Indianapolis, Indiana 46237
Thursday, October 26, 1995 17:10 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT HAD JUST BEEN REFUELED PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. THE PILOT SAID HE DID NOT CHECK THE FUEL CAPS FOR SECURITY. AFTER TAKEOFF, FUEL BEGAN VENTING FROM THE LEFT TANK. THE PILOT RETURNED FOR LANDING, BUT DID NOT COMPLETE HIS NORMAL PRELANDING CHECKLIST AND LANDED GEAR UP. AIRPORT PERSONAL FOUND THE LEFT FUEL CAP ON THE RUNWAY. POSTFLIGHT CHECKS SHOWED THAT THE LANDING GEAR SYSTEM WAS OPERATING CORRECTLY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to lower the landing gear. Factors which contributed to the accident were: inadequate preflight necessitating a precautionary landing and the pilot's failure to use the pre-landing checklist.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/26/1995
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City INDIANAPOLIS
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46237
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport INDIANAPOLIS TERRY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID I52
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 922
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1751 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 25
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 5500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1427
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 28 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:39PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8LP
NTSB Number CHI96LA021
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-34
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-34
Aircraft Serial Number 34-8350042
Certified Max Gross Weight 4000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WILDIRK LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1705 9TH AVENUE SE5
Aircraft Owner City MANDAN
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58854
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name WILLARD NICKISH
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 2840 LA BREA DR
Operator City ST. CHARLES
Operator State MO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 63303
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SUS
Destination City ST. LOUIS
Destination State MO
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --