Piper PA-24-250 accident near Madison, Indiana, April 19, 2010
On April 19, 2010 at about 3:38 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5425P, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Madison, Indiana (Madison Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to conduct the flight with known physiological impairment and his use of unapproved sedating medication, both of which likely impaired his ability to operate the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2010 · about 3:38 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Indiana · Madison Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5425P · no longer on the register · serial 24-479
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness to the accident said that the he heard the airplane’s engine "rev up" then saw the airplane pitch up, roll to the right into an inverted position, and nose dive toward the ground. Impact evidence showed that the airplane struck the ground in a near vertical attitude at a high rate of speed. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact malfunctions or failures; however, the amount of destruction to the airplane precluded a comprehensive determination of its preimpact condition. Review of the pilot’s medical history revealed that over the few weeks before the accident, the pilot had developed neurologic symptoms, including increasing memory problems. During a doctor’s visit, he reported at least one acute episode where he felt confused and had some instability or balance problems. The exact cause of these symptoms and their degree was not determined because a thorough medical evaluation was not completed before the accident. In addition, toxicological test results showed that the pilot had been taking sedating medications that could impair his mental and/or physical ability. The medications were not approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for pilots’ use, and the pilot did not report using them to the FAA.
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 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Illness/injury › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Physical › Impairment/incapacitation › Prescription medication › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Psychological › Mental/emotional state › (general) › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,006 hours in all
- Last flight review: July 16, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,599 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 2009
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming 0-540-A1D5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IMS Madison IN at 3:30 pm
- Destination: IMS Madison IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LOU, 34 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.