Gulfstream AA1A accident near North Vernon, Indiana, November 24, 1988
On November 24, 1988 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Gulfstream AA1A, registered N9396L, was destroyed in an accident near North Vernon, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. 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
- November 24, 1988 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- North Vernon, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Gulfstream AA1A
- Registration
- N9396L · no longer on the register · serial AA1A-0096
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO MAKE A HIGH SPEED LOW LEVEL PASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY AND A CLIMBING LEFT TURN AWAY FROM THE AIRPORT, HEADING NORTH. A WITNESS IN A FIELD NORTH OF THE AIRPORT REPORTED SEEING THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDING FROM A LOW ALTITUDE, LEVEL OUT MOMENTARILY AND THEN RESUME A RAPID NOSE DOWN DESCENT UNTIL IT IMPACTED TREES AND THE TERRIAN. EXAMINATION REVEALED CONTROL AND ENG INTERNAL CONTINUITY. NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WHICH WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE FOUND. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE CARBURETOR, FUEL LINES AND FUEL PUMP.
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: 2,680 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,865 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 12, 1988; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OVO North Vernon IN at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from BMG, 48 miles away
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.
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.