Piper PA 28-140 accident near Plymouth, Indiana, September 1, 2014
On September 1, 2014, a 1966 Piper PA 28-140, registered N8307R, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Plymouth, Indiana (Plymouth Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The sun glare and the pilot's subsequent loss of airplane control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2014
- Place
- Plymouth, Indiana · Plymouth Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 28-140, built 1966 · all PA 28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N8307R · registry record · serial 28-22176
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While preparing to land on runway 28, the pilot switched to runway 10, but then switched back to runway 28 to avoid hot air balloon and helicopter operations at the airport. While on final approach to runway 28, the pilot was blinded by the sun. The pilot stated that the airplane started to settle and he was "too low and too slow" over the cornfield. The airplane impacted the ground between the runway and the cornfield and slid across a road before coming to a stop. The fuselage and firewall were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
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 approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on operation
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming 0-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C65 Plymouth IN
- Destination: C65 Plymouth IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N8307R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.