Piper PA-22-135 accident near Delphi, Indiana, May 17, 2008
On May 17, 2008 at about 3:49 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-135, registered N1601P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Delphi, Indiana (Delphi Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind during landing rollout. Contributing to the accident was the gusting crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2008 · about 3:49 pm local time
- Place
- Delphi, Indiana · Delphi Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-135 · all PA-22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N1601P · no longer on the register · serial 22-2416
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot landed to the south on the turf/grass area alongside runway 18. During the landing rollout, the airplane encountered a wind gust and cartwheeled. The pilot stated that the airplane was traveling at a "fairly slow speed" when it encountered the wind gust. The tricycle-landing gear airplane came to rest upright and the pilot exited without injury. The cabin roof was crushed, both wing spars were bent, and the engine firewall was damaged. The local area winds were out of the west at 8 knots, gusting to 16 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
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 27 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FKR Frankfort IN at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 1I9 Delphi IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,891 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 8 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from LAF, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.