Piper PA-23-250 accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana, September 16, 1982
On September 16, 1982 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-23-250, registered N642MS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Wayne, Indiana (Smith Field). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. 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
- September 16, 1982 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Wayne, Indiana · Smith Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23-250 · all PA-23-250s on the register
- Registration
- N642MS · no longer on the register · serial 277954037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PLT TAXIED OFF RWY ONTO GRASS TO GIVE WAY TO LANDING TRAFFIC. PAVED TAXIWAYS ARE NOT AVAILABLE & 50 FT EITHER SIDE OF RUNWAY IS USED FOR TAXIING WITH THE GRASS BEING KEPT MOWED. BEFORE HE WAS ABLE TO TAXI BACK ONTO THE PAVED RWY THE GROUND GAVE WAY & THE NOSE AND GEAR COLLAPSED.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,599 hours in all; 735 in this make and model; 159 in the last 90 days; 8,386 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,560 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 190 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-C1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Shambaugh & Son, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 3EV Evansville IN at 4:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.