Cessna 182P accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, May 1, 1986
On May 1, 1986 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182P, registered N21139, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Eagle Brook airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- May 1, 1986 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Eagle Brook · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182P · all 182Ps on the register
- Registration
- N21139 · no longer on the register · serial 18261440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT HAD SAT IDLE FOR FOUR DAYS IN HEAVY RAINS PRIOR TO THIS FLT. A LOSS OF POWER WAS EXPERIENCED DURING TAKEOFF. THE PLT ATTEMPTED A 180 DEG TURN BACK TO THE ARPT DURING WHICH THE ACFT STALLED AND DESCENDED TO GROUND IMPACT. APRX 2.5 OUNCES OF WATER WERE FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR. WATER WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. THE LEFT TANK HAD RUPTURED DURING THE ACCIDENT. THE FUEL CAPS AND CHAINS WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,271 hours in all; 1,053 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 1,014 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,750 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I14 Indianapolis IN at 12:05 pm
- Destination: Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:51 pm from IND, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.