Piper PA-32-260 accident near Vandalia, Ohio, October 18, 1982
On October 18, 1982 at about 1:30 am local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N4740S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vandalia, Ohio. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were 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
- October 18, 1982 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Vandalia, Ohio · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4740S · registry record · serial 32-1172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD 40 GAL OF FUEL ON BOARD WHEN HE DEPARTED PARKERSBURG, WV FOR NEW CARLISLE, OH. DURING A NIGHT ARRIVAL AT NEW CARLISLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS BY KEYING HIS MICROPHONE. THEREFORE, HE DIVERTED TO VANDALIA, OH. AFTER LANDING, HE MADE A TELEPHONE CALL TO ARRANGE FOR THE RUNWAY LIGHTS TO BE TURNED ON MANUALLY AT NEW CARLISLE. AFTER A SHORT WAIT, THE PILOT TOOK OFF AGAIN FOR NEW CARLISLE. HOWEVER, SHORTLY AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GET A RESTART. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE CRASHED LANDED IN A SOY BEAN FIELD. AN INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THERE WAS FUEL IN BOTH AUXILIARY (TIP) TANKS, ABOUT 5.5 GAL IN THE RIGHT MAIN TANK, 1 PINT IN THE LEFT MAIN, BUT NO FUEL IN THE LINE FROM THE ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP TO THE CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT MAIN POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE TANK HE SELECTED FOR TAKEOFF AND WAS ALSO THE TANK POSITION SELECTED WHEN HE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF POWER.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 288 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 210 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,510 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAV Vandalia OH at 9:28 pm
- Destination: OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 108°F (42°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 | 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.