Maule MX-7-235 accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, June 17, 1989
On June 17, 1989 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Maule MX-7-235, registered N12VR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Indianapolis Metro airport). It was a business 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
IMPROPER COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT, AND HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF WINGTIP CLEARANCE ABOVE THE GROUND AS HE WAS MANEUVERING TO AVOID THE RUNWAY & VASI LIGHTS. THE CROSSWIND AND RUNWAY/VASI LIGHTS WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1989 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Indianapolis Metro
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Maule MX-7-235 · all MX-7-235s on the register
- Registration
- N12VR · registry record · serial 10058C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OVO North Vernon IN at 1:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.