Champion 7KCAB accident near Sheridan, Indiana, August 31, 1987
On August 31, 1987 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Champion 7KCAB, registered N6343N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sheridan, Indiana (Sheridan airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- August 31, 1987 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sheridan, Indiana · Sheridan · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Champion 7KCAB · all 7KCABs on the register
- Registration
- N6343N · registry record · serial 35
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON INITIAL CLIMBOUT AT APPROXIMATELY 400' AGL THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL POWER FAILURE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER THE AIRCRAFT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A FARM FIELD 1/4 MILE SHORT OF THE AIRPORT. THE PRIVATE PILOT RECEIVING INSTRUCTION STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE GROUND IN A NOSE-LOW, LEFT BANK ATTITUDE. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. EXAMINATION AND RUN-UP OF THE ENGINE BY FAA INVESTIGATORS FAILED 'TO PROVIDE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE TO SHOW INDICATION OF AN ENGINE MALFUNCTION.'
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,194 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 193 in the last 90 days; 2,098 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,222 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 1987; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5I4 Sheridan IN at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.