The Lazy K Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tocsin, Indiana 46777
Tuesady, August 19, 2003 12:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with a corn crop while turning onto crosswind, and was subsequently destroyed during the ensuing post-impact fire. The pilot stated that after liftoff he initiated a left turn onto crosswind and the "left wingtip caught the cornfield which pulled my aircraft to the ground." The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot attempting the low altitude turn and his failure to maintain clearance from the corn crop. A factor to the accident was the corn crop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/19/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Tocsin
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 46777
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404940N
Event Location Longitude 0850510W
Event Location Airport The Lazy K Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 0IN2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 835
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 315
Weather Observation Facility ID FWA
Elevation of weather observation facility 815
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.21
Density Altitude (feet) 2120
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14856
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 19 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1513
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:07AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - South Bend FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N37923
NTSB Number CHI03LA268
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 6706
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 29 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30.33
Airframe Hours 10088.9
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Steven & Terri Kortokrax
Aircraft Owner Street Address 15325 Feichner Road
Aircraft Owner City Roanoke
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 46783
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 0IN2
Departure City Tocsin
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1230
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 0IN2
Destination City Tocsin
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 28 2003 4:10PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2900
Runway Width 60
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --