Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Marion, Indiana 46952
Wednesday, June 8, 1988 15:30 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT BECAME DISORIENTED DURING FLIGHT AND MADE AN UNSCHEDULED STOP IN A CORN FIELD TO ASK FOR DIRECTIONS TO HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING TAXI FOR TAKEOFF FROM THE FIELD, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT, AND STRUCK A MANHOLE COVER SHEARING THE NOSE GEAR. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS FATIGUED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT FROM LACK OF SLEEP.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/8/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City MARION
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46952
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1650 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
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 Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 36
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 16
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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) 775
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 8 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1826
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36627
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3737P
NTSB Number CHI88LA131
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-22-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-22-150
Aircraft Serial Number 22 3457
Certified Max Gross Weight 1950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 19 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 4010
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PHELPS, ERVIN W.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 99 RR 2
Aircraft Owner City SIDNEY
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 69162
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PHELPS, ERVIN W.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 99
Operator City SIDNEY
Operator State NE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 69162
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 No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City GAS CITY
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --