Indianapolis Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Indianapolis, Indiana 46291
Wednesday, April 6, 1983 23:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES ONE MILE FROM THE RUNWAY DURING AN ILS APPROACH TO INDIANAPOLIS INTL AIRPORT AFTER A FLIGHT FROM CHICAGO. THE PILOT SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED A MISSED APPROACH AND DIVERTED TO HULMAN REGIONAL AIRPORT, TERRE HAUTE, IN, FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING. THE ACFT LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. NONE OF THE SIX OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. THE WEATHER AT INDIANAPOLIS AT THE TIME OF THE APPROACH WAS INDEFINITE CEILING 100 FEET OBSCURATION. VISIBILITY 1/8 MILEIN FOG, WIND 250 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS. THE DECISION HEIGHT FOR THE APPROACH IS 984 FEET. FIELD ELEVATION IS 797 FEET MSL.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/6/1983
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2300
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City INDIANAPOLIS
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46291
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport INDIANAPOLIS INTL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IND
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 220
Airport Elevation 797
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 2300 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID IND
Elevation of weather observation facility 797
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 100
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 6
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 260
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 20420
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3794W
NTSB Number CHI83FA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GATES LEARJET
Aircraft Model 35A
Aircraft Series Identifier 35A
Aircraft Serial Number 35A-454
Certified Max Gross Weight 17000
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 8
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 17 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 70
Airframe Hours 570
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BINDLEY WESTERN INDUSTRIES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4212 W. 71ST
Aircraft Owner City INDIANAPOLIS
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46268
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code ORD
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2230
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4L
Runway Length 10005
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --