Cessna 180 accident near Frankfort, Indiana, August 13, 1983
On August 13, 1983 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 180, registered N68668, was substantially damaged in an accident near Frankfort, Indiana (Frankfort Muni airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 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
- August 13, 1983 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Frankfort, Indiana · Frankfort Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N68668 · no longer on the register · serial 32088
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PURPOSE OF THE FLT WAS TO TRANSPORT 3 STUDENT PARACHUTE JUMPERS. AFTER THE JUMPERS EGRESSED, THE PLT & JUMPMASTER RETURNED TO THE ARPT. DURING THE LANDING, THE ACFT HIT A RIDGE ON THE GRASS RWY & BOUNCED IN THE AIR. THE ACFT THEN TOUCHED DOWN IN A CRAB, SLID SIDEWAYS & THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THE WIND WAS FROM THE NORTHEAST AT 5 GUSTING 10 KTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 347 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 103 in the last 90 days; 222 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,733 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 7, 1983; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 pm from LAF, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.