Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 accident near Parker City, Indiana, January 4, 2015
On January 4, 2015 at about 9:03 pm local time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, registered N349EA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Parker City, Indiana (Delaware County Regional Airpo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of airplane control while troubleshooting an engine issue in instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in impact with trees and terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 4, 2015 · about 9:03 pm local time · cases in 2015
- Place
- Parker City, Indiana · Delaware County Regional Airpo · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company A36
- Registration
- N349EA · registry record · serial E-3549
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, the air traffic controller instructed him to descend from 9,000 to 4,000 ft. While performing the descent checklist, the pilot switched fuel tanks, and the engine subsequently lost power. The pilot further reported that he was certain that the engine restarted and that the event put him "behind the airplane in performing…cockpit duties." The next thing the pilot remembered was the controller informing him that he was flying in circles and losing altitude. The pilot thought the airplane was in a spin and tried to regain control. After the airplane broke out of the clouds into poor visibility and snow, the pilot chose to land in a cornfield. During the landing, the airplane impacted trees and terrain. A witness reported observing the airplane at a low altitude traveling at a high rate of speed, then it pitched up to almost vertical flight, descended, and impacted terrain. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 maneuvering
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Low visibility › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Ceiling/visibility/precip › Snow › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 421 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 349 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 6, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,188 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 3,651 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B89B (piston); 78 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CUL Carmi IL at 8:00 pm
- Destination: MIE Muncie IN
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 270° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MIE, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on March 30, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts of FAA ATC Package | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Excerpts of Maintenance Records | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Continental Engine Field Inspection Report | PDF, 27 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N349EA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Raytheon Aircraft Company 2,138 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B89B 3,077 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Delaware County Regional · nearest airport
- Carmi Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Indiana 1,367 since 1982 · 179 in the last ten years
- Indiana 5,705 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN15LA098.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.