Amateur-built Turbulent D-31 accident near Lebanon, Indiana, July 16, 2001
On July 16, 2001 at about 2:52 pm local time, a amateur-built Turbulent D-31, registered N4697T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Indiana (Boone County 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 pilot not maintaining aircraft control while maneuvering during initial climb. Factors to the accident were the improperly serviced propeller that resulted in a pitch setting that was insufficient for normal flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2001 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Indiana · Boone County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Turbulent D-31
- Registration
- N4697T · no longer on the register · serial PFA-588
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on the first flight following the installation and adjustment of a new ground-adjustable propeller. The pilot reported that while on initial climb, "... at aprox. [approximately] 40-50 foot altitude, I gently lowered the nose to continue the climbout at 70 kts. [knots]. At about the same time the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of forward thrust, with the engine continuing to run. I tried to maintain aircraft control to attempted to glide the aircraft back to the runway. The aircraft struck the ground about 20-25 feet right of the runway, turning about 180 degrees counter-clockwise, after impact." The pilot reported that he believed the loss of forward thrust was due to the propeller pitch adjustment prior to the accident flight. The propeller was inspected and was found at a minimum pitch setting of approximately 3 degrees.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 41 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 433 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 17, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 930 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 31, 2001; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1584cc (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6I4 Lebanon IN at 2:52 pm
- Destination: 5D3 Owosso MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from EYE, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.