Smithfield Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Washington Twp., Indiana 46804
Thursday, November 21, 1985 13:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT AND PAX WERE RETURNING FROM A XCOUNTRY FLT. WHILE ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH THE ACFT WAS WITNESSED TO STALL AND FALL OFF ON THE LEFT WG. THE ACFT THEN DESCENDED INTO A WOODED AREA CAUSING LEFT WG SEPARATION AND THEN IMPACTED A CREEK BANK. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT THE CUMULATIVE FLT & GROUND TAXI TIME SINCE REFUELING WOULD HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO ACCOUNT FOR FUEL EXHAUSTION, EVEN WITH GOOD FUEL MANAGEMENT DURING THE FLT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/21/1985
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1340
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City WASHINGTON TWP.
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46804
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SMITHFIELD
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SMD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport 230
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1350 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 10
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 800
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2928
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Nov 21 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1305
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 31516
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2170X
NTSB Number CHI86FA031
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-161
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-161
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7916346
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 6 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 18
Airframe Hours 3311
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD F. NIX
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3826 BLYTHWOOD PLACE
Aircraft Owner City FT. WAYNE
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46804
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BOWMAN AVIATION, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 426 W. LUDWIG RD.
Operator City FORT WAYNE
Operator State IN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 46825
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 CVG
Departure City COVINGTON
Departure State KY
Departure Country
Departure Time 1216
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code SMD
Destination City FORT WAYNE
Destination State IN
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Descent
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --