Piper PA-28-140 accident near Elwood, Indiana, August 30, 2002
On August 30, 2002 at about 1:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5742F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elwood, Indiana (Elwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's misjudgment of speed/distance and his failure to perform a go-around. The pilot's inaccurate evaluation of the wind, a tailwind, selection of the wrong runway, and wet grass are contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2002 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Elwood, Indiana · Elwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5742F · no longer on the register · serial 28-25044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane contacted trees during an overrun landing. The pilot reported that during the flight, the winds seemed to be out of the south. He reported he entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 27 and there was a slight southerly wind. The pilot reported, he used 20 degrees of flaps and the airplane touched down as the indicated airspeed dropped from 70 mph to 65 mph. The pilot's last recollection prior to the accident was "braking hard." Tire tracks on grass were visible from mid-point on the runway up to the accident site. N5742F took off from the departed airport with 4 other airplanes that were all en route to the same destination. The pilots of the first two airplanes to arrive stated the windsock and tetrahedron indicated the winds were out of the east, so they landed on runway 09. N5742F was the third airplane to land. The pilot of the fourth airplane reported that the pilot of N5742F made one go-around prior to the accident landing on runway 27 in order to avoid traffic that was landing on runway 09. This fourth pilot reported that even though the windsock indicated the winds favored runway 09, he followed N5742F in landing on runway 27 to avoid conflicting traffic. He reported the winds were stronger then he thought, his landing was longer than anticipated, and he had to use "hard" braking in order to get his airplane stopped. The fifth pilot to land reported the windsock and tetrahedron indicated the winds were directly out of the east so he landed on runway 09. He stated that while he was on downwind, he saw N5742F landing downwind and the airplane was "too fast." This pilot also reported that the grass was wet. Winds reported at AID, located 13 nautical miles southeast of 3I1, at 0850 were from 090 degrees at 10 knots. Winds reported at Muncie, Indiana, located 20 nautical miles east of 3I1, at 0821 were from 100 degrees at 8 knots.
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
- Flight time: 411 hours in all; 206 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 356 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,643 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 2001; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming o-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AID Anderson IN at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 3I1 Elwood IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,243 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from AID, 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.