Piper PA-18 accident near Hobart, Indiana, June 20, 1982
On June 20, 1982 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N897SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hobart, Indiana (Hobart airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- June 20, 1982 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Hobart, Indiana · Hobart
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N897SP · no longer on the register · serial 18-3555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 150 TO 200 FT AGL. SUBSEQUENTLY, DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT FLEW THROUGH A ROW OF TREES WHEN THE PILOT TRIED TO REACH AN OPEN AREA THAT TURNED OUT TO BE A GRAVE YARD. THE PILOT BELIEVED THAT EACH FUEL TANK WAS AT LEAST 1/4 FULL AND REPORTED THAT THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED DURING A NORMAL CLIMB. THE FIRE WALL FUEL STRAINER AND CARBURETOR BOWL WERE FOUND FULL OF FUEL AND NO CONTAMINATION WAS NOTED. ALSO, AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO PREIMPACT FAILURES.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,565 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 85 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,676 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3HO Hobart IN at 10:50 am
- Destination: LRP Laporte IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,125 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 20 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N897SP 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.