Richmond Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Richmond, Indiana 47374
Thursday, October 7, 2010 20:09 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an after-landing taxi on a closed and unbarricaded taxiway, the pilot noticed a flickering landing gear indicator light. When the pilot diverted his attention to the indicator light, the airplane veered off the closed taxiway and into a drainage ditch that was under construction adjacent to the taxiway. A notice to airman (NOTAM) for the taxiway closure had been issued and was also known by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's diverted attention to a landing gear indicator light that led to a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with terrain while taxiing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/7/2010
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 2009
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Richmond
Event State INDIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 47374
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 394522N
Event Location Longitude 0845034W
Event Location Airport Richmond Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RID
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 1140
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2015 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID MWO
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29083
NTSB Notification Source IND FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2010 1:49PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N38205
NTSB Number CEN11CA015
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-300
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-7780403
Certified Max Gross Weight 3600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 6
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4844.41
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AEROPLUS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3460 NIEWOEHNER RD
Aircraft Owner City RRICHMOND
Aircraft Owner State IN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 47374-9642
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Centerville
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
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 --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CEV
Departure City Connersville
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1945
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code RID
Destination City Richmond
Destination State IN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2010 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --