Cessna R182RG II accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, October 31, 1987
On October 31, 1987 at about 2:40 am local time, a Cessna R182RG II, registered N739JG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Mount Comfort 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
- October 31, 1987 · about 2:40 am local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Mount Comfort
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182RG II · all R182RG IIs on the register
- Registration
- N739JG · registry record · serial R18200999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKE-OFF, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETRACT THE LANDING GEAR WHEN THE HYDRAULIC LINE ON THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR ACTUATOR FAILED. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS STUCK IN THE TRAILING POSITION WHILE THE NOSE GEAR AND RIGHT MAIN GEAR REMAINED DOWN AND LOCKED. THE PILOT INITIATED THE APPROPRIATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES TO ATTEMPT TO LOWER THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR, BUT THE EMERGENCY EXTENSION SYSTEM WAS ALSO INOPERATIVE. THE PILOT MADE A PARTIAL GEAR UP LANDING AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AND THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING THE LANDING ROLL. EXAM OF THE ACFT REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAIN LNDG GEAR ACTUATING DOWN LINE, CESSNA PART #2880001-1, HAD FAILED AT THE FLARE AND PULLED OUT FROM THE FITTING ATTACHING THE LINE TO THE ACTUATOR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 420 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 347 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,012 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 1987; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I21 Brookside IN at 10:30 pm
- Destination: MQJ IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 5,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 am from IND, 20 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.