Piper PA-28-180 accident near Anderson, Indiana, June 14, 1987
On June 14, 1987 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7306W, was destroyed in an accident near Anderson, Indiana (Ace Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 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
- June 14, 1987 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Anderson, Indiana · Ace Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7306W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1162
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ENG BGN 'HITTING & MISSING.' HE MADE A SHALLOW LEFT TURN TO AVOID A HOUSE & LAND IN A CORN FIELD. HOWEVER, THE ACFT STALLED & THE LEFT WING STRUCK THE GROUND. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT A SCREW (WHICH HELD THE BREAKER POINTS IN THE RIGHT MAGNETO) HAD COME OUT & ALLOWED THE POINTS TO COME LOOSE & NOT FOLLOW THE LOBES ON THE CAM. THE ACFT HAD 50 HRS OF FLT TIME SINCE THE LAST ANNUAL INSPN.
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: 93 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 56 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 1987; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3AE at 2:18 pm
- Destination: AID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,580 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from AID
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.