Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Noblesville, Indiana 46061
Wednesday, June 22, 1988 7:15 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING INITIAL CLIMBOUT THE PILOT STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT RATE OF CLIMB TO CONTINUE FLIGHT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN A FIELD, STRIKING TREES. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL EVIDENCE OF A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION AND REVEALED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WEIGHT LIMITATIONS WERE EXCEEDED. THE PILOT HAD NOT PERFORMED ANY WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATIONS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. A WITNESS REPORTED A VERY ABRUPT ROTATION AND NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE AFTER LIFTOFF.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/1988
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 715
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City NOBLESVILLE
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46061
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 INDIANAPOLIS METROPOLITAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 4I8
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 654 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 222
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 18
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 777
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 22 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 945
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 36629
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 N36472
NTSB Number CHI88LA139
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-28R-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-201
Aircraft Serial Number 28R 7837280
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 15 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 74
Airframe Hours 1400
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name INDIANAPOLIS AVIATION, INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 10565 ALLISONVILLE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City NOBLESVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46061
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name INDIANAPOLIS AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 10565 ALLISONVILLE ROAD
Operator City NOBLESVILLE
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46061
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 4I8
Departure City NOBLESVILLE
Departure State IN
Departure Country
Departure Time 715
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
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 14
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --