Piper PA-28-236 accident near Bourbon, Indiana, February 28, 2004
On February 28, 2004 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-236, registered N8438B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bourbon, Indiana (Rust Landing Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate annual inspection in that the worn brake disks were not replaced which resulted in diminished braking capability during the landing roll. A factor associated with the accident was the utility pole that the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 2004 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bourbon, Indiana · Rust Landing Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-236 · all PA-28-236s on the register
- Registration
- N8438B · no longer on the register · serial 28-8211002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane contacted a utility pole during an overrun landing on a 1,280 foot long, damp, upsloping grass airstrip. The pilot stated he touched down with the throttle at idle, in a full stall with full flaps and noticed he was having difficulty slowing the airplane. The pilot reported he applied "stand-on-the-brakes emergency stopping pressure," but he only received minimal braking. The airplane continued off the airstrip, across a country road, and onto a concrete driveway where the left wing contacted a utility pole swinging the airplane around 90 degrees prior to it stopping. Tire marks in the grass revealed the right main gear touched down 272 feet past the runway threshold and the left main touched down 42 feet later. The airplane traveled 30 feet 6 inches past the departure end of the airstrip prior to contacting the utility pole. The pilot reported that although tire marks were visible on the airstrip, the only skid marks visible were when the airplane spun around after contacting the pole. The pilot purchased the airplane on October 1, 2003. The last annual inspection was dated September 27, 2003. The airframe logbook indicates that new brake linings were installed at the last annual inspection. The pilot reported he flew the airplane 46 hours prior to the accident. The pilot reported he did not experience any problems with the brakes prior to this accident. Examination of the airplane revealed the brake disks were worn to the point that they were concave. The inspector reported that only 20 percent of the brake pads were in contact with the disks.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,222 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 6, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,790 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 27, 2003; 46 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: II95 Bourbon IN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: II95 Bourbon IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 1,280 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from KASW, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N8438B 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.