Grumman TBM-3 accident near Terre Haute, Indiana, May 15, 2025
On May 15, 2025 at about 5:39 pm local time, a 1944 Grumman TBM-3, registered N420GP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Terre Haute, Indiana (Terre Haute Rgnl airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 2025 · about 5:39 pm local time
- Place
- Terre Haute, Indiana · Terre Haute Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman TBM-3, built 1944 · all TBM-3s on the register
- Registration
- N420GP · registry record · serial 53420
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 15, 2025, about 1339 eastern daylight time, a Grumman TBM-3 airplane, N420GP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, he attempted to increase engine power, but the engine did not respond. He began troubleshooting by switching fuel tanks and completing the emergency checklist item; however, engine power was not restored. The pilot executed a forced landing, and the airplane touched down on the airport perimeter road. The airplane then impacted a drainage ditch, struck the airport perimeter fence, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage and empennage. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.
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 engine power (total) during landing defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,914.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 2025; 1.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 4:30 pm
- Destination: HUF Terre Haute IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05/2, 9,021 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KHUF, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHUF 151653Z 18012G20KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A2965 RMK AO2 SLP035 T02890222
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N420GP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN25LA181.