Amateur-built EAA BIPLANE accident near Franklin, Indiana, July 19, 1983
On July 19, 1983 at about 11:20 pm local time, a amateur-built EAA BIPLANE, registered N81964, was substantially damaged in an accident near Franklin, Indiana (Franklin airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 19, 1983 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Franklin, Indiana · Franklin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built EAA BIPLANE EAA BIPLAN
- Registration
- N81964 · no longer on the register · serial 651
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER THE ENGINE QUIT DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT HAD TAKEN OFF WITH SEVEN GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE RESERVE TANK AND 4 GALLONS IN THE MAIN TANK. HIS INITIAL TAKEOFF WAS WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR ON RESERVE. HE FLEW ON RESERVE TANK FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES IN THE LOCAL AREA. HE THEN SWITCHED TO THE MAIN TANK AND MADE 2 TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS. HE DECIDED TO MAKE A 3RD TAKEOFF BUT FORGOT TO SWITCH FUEL TANKS. AT 150 FT AGL AFTER TAKEOFF THEENGINE QUIT. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A CORN FIELD.
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
- Flight time: 168 hours in all; 17 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 197 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°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.
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.