Navion H accident near Columbus, Indiana, March 23, 1986
On March 23, 1986 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Navion H, registered N25342, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Indiana (Columbus Municipal 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
- March 23, 1986 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, Indiana · Columbus Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Navion H
- Registration
- N25342 · no longer on the register · serial NAV4-2534
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS PRACTICING A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF WHEN AT 30 TO 40 FEET THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND QUIT, THE AIRCRAFT SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD DAMAGING THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR BOX AND FUSELAGE BEHIND THE RIGHT WING. THE PILOT SAID HE MAY HAVE TAKEN OFF ON THE TIP TANKS BUT HE THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE MAINS. INSPECTION REVEALED THE TIP TANKS TO BE NEARLY EMPTY. THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM WERE FOUND TO BE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHEN TESTED. LATER THE PILOT SAID HE FOUND A SMALL AMOUNT OF 'BROWN WATER' IN THE FUEL WHEN HE DRAINED THE TANKS.
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: 601 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,679 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,315 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 5I1 Greenwood IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 6,425 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from BAK
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.
Other NTSB records under N25342 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.