Piper PA-38-112 accident near Kentland, Indiana, May 1, 1987
On May 1, 1987, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N23781, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kentland, Indiana (Kentland Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- May 1, 1987
- Place
- Kentland, Indiana · Kentland Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N23781 · registry record · serial 38-79A1052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT REPORTED A LOSS OF POWER APPROX. 10 TO 30 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ALONG THE LEFT SIDE AND APPROX. 1500 FEET DOWN THE 3500-FOOT RUNWAY. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE ACCIDENT DID NOT REVEAL ANY EVIDENCE OF ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE PROPELLER HAD BROKEN OFF THE CRANKSHAFT AND A PORTION OF THE CRANKSHAFT FLANGE WAS BENT AFT. A 1/2-INCH GOUGE IN THE RUNWAY NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS REPORTED. THE NOSE GEAR HAD COLLAPSED.
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: 895 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,962 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 19, 1987; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 13 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.
Other NTSB records under N23781 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.