Amateur-built T-18 accident near Elwood, Indiana, November 22, 1986
On November 22, 1986 at about 9:30 pm local time, a amateur-built T-18, registered N2433, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elwood, Indiana (Elwood airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- November 22, 1986 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Elwood, Indiana · Elwood · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-18
- Registration
- N2433 · no longer on the register · serial 547
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT DEPARTED ANDERSON, INDIANA TO CHECK FARM FIELDS FOR STANDING WATER, THEN ELECTED TO LAND AT THE ELWOOD ARPT AT ELWOOD, INDIANA. THE SOD RWY AT THE ARPT HAD AN UNEVEN GRADIENT & WAS SOFT FROM RECENT RAINS. WHILE LANDING ON THE SOFT,UNEVEN RWY, THE ACFT NOSED OVER.
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: 934 hours in all; 493 in this make and model; 906 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 616 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 28, 1986; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,464 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AID Anderson IN at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,300 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 19,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from IND, 38 miles away
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.
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.