Amateur-built MX-2 accident near Pylmouth, Indiana, July 15, 1983
On July 15, 1983, a amateur-built MX-2, registered N38802, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pylmouth, Indiana (Plymouth Municipal airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 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
- July 15, 1983
- Place
- Pylmouth, Indiana · Plymouth Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MX-2
- Registration
- N38802 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS TAKING OFF FOR DUAL INSTRUCTION WHEN A GUST OF WIND PICKED UP THE WING AND THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED ENDING ON THE NOSE AND RT. WING. THE INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT AS THE ACFT ACCELERATED A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE ACFT FROM THE LEFT. THE STUDENT REACTED BY PULLING BACK AND LEFT ON THE STICK. THE ACFT HAD NOT ACCELERATED ENOUGH TO CLIMB AND THE LEFT WING CAME UP. THE ACFT VEERED RT SO THE INSTRUCTOR TOOK OVER AND ADDED POWER TO CLEAR THE LIGHTS. THE WIND THENPICKED UP THE LEFT WING AND CARTWHEELED THE ACFT TO THE RT. THE ACFT CAME TO REST SEMI-INVERTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 775 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 195 in the last 90 days; 663 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 12, 1983; 17 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,500 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 1°F (-17°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.