Piper PA-24-250 accident near Madison, Indiana, March 21, 2026
On March 21, 2026 at about 4:00 pm local time, a 1961 Piper PA-24-250, registered N7548P, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Madison, Indiana (Madison Rgnl airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during takeoff and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 21, 2026 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Indiana · Madison Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 Commanche, built 1961 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7548P · registry record · serial 24-2756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the takeoff rotation there was a slight vibration in the airplane and the controls felt “mushy.” The pilot lost aircraft control as the left wing stalled and dropped. The pilot aborted the takeoff and managed to get the wings level before impacting a ditch and coming to rest upright in a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport management personnel reviewed an airport security camera video that captured the accident sequence. The video was consistent with the pilot’s description of 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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 523 hours in all; 271 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 412 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,052.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2025; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 (piston); 633 hours total
- Operator: Secolad N7548P LLC
The flight
- Departed from: IMS Madison IN at 3:25 pm
- Destination: DBQ Dubuque IA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 03/2, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 40°F (4°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from KBAK, 36 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KBAK 211445Z 14008KT 10SM CLR 15/ A2996
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N7548P in field
Photograph 2 – Right wing as removed for transport showing wing spar damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Airport Authority Witness Statements | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.