Amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper accident near Peru, Indiana, August 3, 2003
On August 3, 2003 at about 6:32 pm local time, a amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper, registered N81171, was destroyed in an accident near Peru, Indiana (Robison Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot not maintaining altitude/clearance from the trees during the landing. A factor was the trees he impacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 2003 · about 6:32 pm local time
- Place
- Peru, Indiana · Robison Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Pietenpol Air Camper
- Registration
- N81171 · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental amateur-built airplane was destroyed on impact with trees and terrain during an attempted landing. The recreational pilot reported on his application for his last airmen's medical that he had accumulated 70 total flight hours, 15 of which were flown in the 6 months preceding that physical examination. Local wind was 230 degrees at 11 knots. The sheriff's report stated, "It appeared that possibly the [airplane] struck the trees with [its] left wing. There was fuel in the aircraft and it appeared the engine was running at the time of the accident. The [tachometer] was stuck at 1450 rpms." An on-scene examination revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report stated, "DIPHENHYDRAMINE present in Urine." Diphenhydramine (commonly known by the trade name Benadryl) is an over-the-counter antihistamine with sedative effects, most commonly used to treat allergy symptoms.
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: recreational
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 70 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 995 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GGP Logansport IN
- Destination: IN33 Peru IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from GUS, 6 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.