Piper PA-23 accident near Corydon, Indiana, February 15, 1982
On February 15, 1982 at about 10:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-23, registered N1108P, was destroyed in an accident near Corydon, Indiana. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- February 15, 1982 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Corydon, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-23 · all PA-23s on the register
- Registration
- N1108P · registry record · serial 23-118
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PRIOR TO THIS FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, IT HAD BEEN SOLD. THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT ANNUAL INSPECTION AND HAD SEVERAL MAINTENANCE DISCREPANCIES. THESE INCLUDED PROBLEMS THAT PREVENTED GEAR RETRACTION AND FLAP EXTENSION. THE NEW OWNER/PILOT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIRCRAFT NEEDED A FERRY PERMIT. HE WAS ADVISED SEVERAL TIMES TO WAIT UNTIL ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED; HOWEVER, HE SEEMED DETERMINED TO DEPART WITH THE AIRCRAFT ON THAT DAY. AFTER PERFORMING SOME MINOR MAINTENANCE AND DRAINING CONSIDERABLE WATER FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM, THE PILOT TOOK OFF. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED DEPARTING AT LOW ALTITUDE WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER, IT WAS SEEN IN A SHALLOW DESCENT WITH THE GEAR EXTENDED AND IN A LEFT YAW. BEFORE CRASHING, A WITNESS OBSERVED THE RIGHT WING RAISE AND THE NOSE DROP. WATER WAS FOUND IN THE LEFT ENGINE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE TO THE CARBURETOR.
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: military, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 679 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I38 Jeffersonville IN at 5:30 pm
- Destination: 3SZ St Charles MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
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.