Amateur-built SA11A accident near Pendleton, Indiana, May 15, 1982
On May 15, 1982 at about 4:20 pm local time, a amateur-built SA11A, registered N4652, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pendleton, Indiana (Stephenson airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- May 15, 1982 · about 4:20 pm local time
- Place
- Pendleton, Indiana · Stephenson
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SA11A
- Registration
- N4652 · no longer on the register · serial 60
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 2000 FEET WITH ONE PASSENGER WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT SOYBEAN FIELD AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER DURING DECELERATION. THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BAFFLES WERE COLLAPSED. "BLOW BY" WAS INDICATED BY OIL IN THE CRANK CASE BREATHER AND ON THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRCRAFT'S FUSELAGE. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO FUEL OR IGNITION PROBLEMS. VALVES AND COMPRESSION WERE NORMAL.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Unknown (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Anderson IN at 11:00 am
- Destination: Anderson IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 183°F (84°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.