Piper PA-32-260 accident near Henryville, Indiana, March 28, 1986
On March 28, 1986 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-260, registered N4804S, was destroyed in an accident near Henryville, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 5 people were seriously injured. 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
- March 28, 1986 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Henryville, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 5 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-260 · all PA-32-260s on the register
- Registration
- N4804S · no longer on the register · serial 32-1189
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING THE ACFT OFF AT 9000 FT MSL, THE PLT EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE. DURING THE SUBSEQUENT FORCED LANDING THE ACFT STRUCK A TREE AND WAS FURTHER DAMAGED DURING THE FORCED LANDING ROLL. METALLURGICAL EXAM REVEALED THE CRANKSHAFT FAILED DUE TO HIGH CYCLE, LOW STRESS FATIGUE CRACKING WHICH INITIATED FROM A SUBSURFACE ORIGIN AREA. THE CAMSHAFT WAS ALSO FOUND FAILED, BUT THIS WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE OCCURRED FOLLOWING THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURE.
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: 350 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,367 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1985; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-E4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SMD Ft. Wayne IN at 12:30 pm
- Destination: CSG Columbus GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.