Piper PA-28-161 accident near Culver, Indiana, August 10, 2005
On August 10, 2005 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4512Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culver, Indiana (Fleet Field Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power while maneuvering due to partial failure of the left magneto, and the flight instructor's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid a stall. An additional cause was improper maintenance by company maintenance personnel, resulting in the failure of the left magneto. Factors associated with the accident are the instructor's inadvertent stall, his failure to follow established emergency procedures, and the inadequate surveillance of the operation by company management.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2005 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Culver, Indiana · Fleet Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4512Q · no longer on the register · serial 28-8016019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was being operated as part of a school's aviation program with a flight instructor and student pilot. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane lost engine power and impacted a lake. Witnesses reported that the engine was sputtering, a momentary restart was performed, and a loss of engine power ensued while the airplane was maneuvering at an altitude of approximately 150-200 feet above ground level. Both wings had leading edge crushing and vertical separation from the fuselage consistent with a low-speed shallow pitch impact attitude. The propeller did not display signs of bending or twisting. The flaps were in a retracted position, and cockpit switches were in positions contrary to that called for in the emergency landing procedures checklist for the airplane. Examination of the engine ignition system revealed that the left magneto timing was approximately 30-35 degrees before top dead center, and the impulse coupling was unwound. An annual inspection of the airplane was completed on the day of the accident. Engine logbook records for the airplane shows an entry dated August 9, 2004, that states, "changed left magneto with new magneto model number 4371." There was no annotation as to the serial number of the left magneto, and no further entries within the engine logbook for overhaul of either magneto. There was no serviceable tag for the left magneto associated with its replacement. At the time of the annual inspection, the left magneto had accumulated a total time of 406 hours, and the right magneto had accumulated a total time of 1,429 hours since last overhaul based on logbook entries. According to the magneto manufacturer’s service bulletin, these magnetos are to be overhauled every 500 hours. Inspection of the remaining airplanes used in the school's aviation program revealed numerous maintenance related discrepancies, including the use of unairworthy parts. Upon recovery of the airplane, it was noted that the entry door was in the latched closed position.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 493 hours in all; 146 in the last 90 days; 99 in the last 30 days; 429 as pilot in command; 188 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,432 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2005; 1.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IN73 Culver IN at 7:20 pm
- Destination: IN73
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from ASW, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.