Amateur-built JUNIOR ACE accident near Cloverdale, Indiana, February 29, 1988
On February 29, 1988 at about 8:45 pm local time, a amateur-built JUNIOR ACE, registered N21BL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cloverdale, Indiana (Clover Knoll airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- February 29, 1988 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cloverdale, Indiana · Clover Knoll · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JUNIOR ACE
- Registration
- N21BL · no longer on the register · serial WL1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES NEAR THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY AND CRASHED ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT HAD LESS THAN 1 HOUR FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MODEL HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT.
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: 2,133 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 1,983 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 259 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 9, 1987; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,215 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Cloverdale IN at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from HUF, 22 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.