Amateur-built WACO accident near Madison, Indiana, July 24, 1988
On July 24, 1988 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built WACO, registered N810TW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Indiana (Madison Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- July 24, 1988 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Indiana · Madison Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WACO
- Registration
- N810TW · registry record · serial 810TW
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT MADE SVRL HI SPEED TAXI CHECKS, THEN TOOK OFF ON HIS 1ST FLT IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT. HE CLIMBED TO ALT TO CHECK THE STALL CHARACTERISTICS, THEN RETURNED TO THE ARPT. HOWEVER, AS HE WAS LANDING, THE ACFT CONTACTED THE GROUND NEAR THE END OF THE RWY & SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED OVER. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.
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: 336 hours in all; 330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 30 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 24, 1988; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,771 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner SUPER SCARAB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IMS at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,200 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from VHP, 45 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.