The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CHI85LA024 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Piper PA28-151 accident near Lake Village, Indiana, October 20, 1984

On October 20, 1984 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA28-151, registered N41483, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Village, Indiana (Lake Village airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. 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 20, 1984 · about 9:00 pm local time
Place
Lake Village, Indiana · Lake Village · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
3 people had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Piper PA28-151 · all PA28-151s on the register
Registration
N41483 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415232
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS ON FINAL APCH TO LAND ON A WET, SOD RWY WHEN HE NOTICED A FLOCK OF GEESE OVER THE APCH END. HE ADDED POWER TO FLY OVER THE GEESE THEN PROCEEDED TO TOUCHDOWN FURTHER DOWN THE RWY THAN WHAT HE HAD PLANNED. DUE TO HIS SPEED & THE WET RWY, HE WAS UNABLE TO STOP SO HE ABORTED THE LANDING. HOWEVER, AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE LANDING GEAR HIT A FENCE THAT BORDERED THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RWY. THE ACFT CONTINUED ACROSS A BOARDERING ROAD & NOSED INTO A DITCH.

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: 1,895 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 1,850 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,100 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1984
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: OSC Griffith IN at 8:25 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 300 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; clear
  • Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 9:00 pm from MDW, 40 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers2

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.