Piper J3C-85 and Cessna 152 accident near Auburn, Indiana, August 3, 2010
On August 3, 2010 at about 10:24 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper J3C-85 (N98022) and Cessna 152 (N93927), were involved in the same accident near Auburn, Indiana (Dekalb County Airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to monitor the position of the other airplane.
The pilot of the other airplane failing to monitor the position this airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2010 · about 10:24 pm local time
- Place
- Auburn, Indiana · Dekalb County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper J3C-85 · all J3C-85s on the register
- Registration
- N98022 · registry record · serial 18165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N93927 · registry record · serial 15285574
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper J3C-85 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper reported that he was taxiing to the runway for departure and he saw another airplane, a Cessna stopped on the taxiway. He reported that the Cessna radioed that he was holding short of the runway. The pilot of the Piper said that he expected the Cessna to move to the hold short line but the Cessna was 30 feet from the hold short line. The Piper struck the Cessna from behind resulting in damage to both airplanes. The Piper sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The Cessna sustained damage to its right wing and aileron. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was stopped on the taxiway waiting for landing traffic when his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper reported that he was taxiing to the runway for departure and he saw another airplane, a Cessna stopped on the taxiway. He reported that the Cessna radioed that he was holding short of the runway. The pilot of the Piper said that he expected the Cessna to move to the hold short line but the Cessna was 30 feet from the hold short line. The Piper struck the Cessna from behind resulting in damage to both airplanes. The Piper sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The Cessna sustained damage to its right wing and aileron. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was stopped on the taxiway waiting for landing traffic when his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Piper J3C-85 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 558 hours in all; 356 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 402 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2010
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor C85 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWB Auburn IN at 10:24 pm
- Destination: GWB Auburn IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 10:25 pm from GWB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 426 hours in all; 286 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 373 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 3, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 12, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GWB Auburn IN at 10:24 pm
- Destination: GWB Auburn IN
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN10CA468.