Piper PA-28-236 accident near Angola, Indiana, May 19, 2002
On May 19, 2002 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N8442A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Angola, Indiana (Tri-State Stueben County airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor to the accident was the soft terrain condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2002 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Angola, Indiana · Tri-State Stueben County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N8442A · registry record · serial 28-8211006
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While in cruise flight, the engine experienced a loss of power, and the pilot performed a forced landing on a soft agricultural field. The pilot reported the landing gear sank into the soft terrain and was torn from the airplane during touchdown and landing. The pilot stated that prior to departure, the airplane was fueled with 26.3 gallons, which completely filled both wing fuel tanks. Adequate amounts of fuel were found in both wing tanks at the accident site. No anomalies were found with the engine or its associated components that would prevent the normal operation of the engine.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 623 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 550 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 23, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,661.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2002; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3A5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BJJ Wooster OH at 9:02 pm
- Destination: UGN Waukegan IL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from AZO, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N8442A 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.