Swearingen SA226TC accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, April 6, 1982
On April 6, 1982 at about 2:38 am local time, a Swearingen SA226TC, registered N639S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana (Baer Field). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 6, 1982 · about 2:38 am local time
- Place
- Fort Wayne, Indiana · Baer Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Swearingen SA226TC · all SA226TCs on the register
- Registration
- N639S · no longer on the register · serial TC222E
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO LANDING THE CREW WAS ADVISED BY FORT WAYNE ATC THAT THE 150 FOOT WIDE RUNWAY HAD BEEN PLOWED 140 FEET WIDE WITH 18 INCH WINDROWS ON EACH SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE RUNWAY WAS REPORTED TO BE 40 PERCENT COVERED WITH FINGER DRIFTS. THE WIND WAS FROM 010 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS AND GUSTING. THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT AND CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE RIGHT UNTIL THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR MADE CONTACT WITH A SNOW WINDROW. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED ACROSS THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF RUNWAY 04.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,183 hours in all; 198 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,429 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 22
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Airesearch 331-3UW-303G (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Wisconsin, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: CLE Cleveland OH at 7:45 pm
- Destination: FWA Fort Wayne TX
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 4, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 060° at 16 knots
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from FWA
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.