Douglas DC-3A accident near Columbus, Indiana, September 15, 1989
On September 15, 1989 at about 7:00 am local time, a Douglas DC-3A, registered N143JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Columbus, Indiana (Columbus Muni airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE CO-PILOT'S FAILURE TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT TO THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND AFTER ENCOUNTERING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DIFFICULTIES DURING ROLL-OUT, AND EXCESSIVE BRAKING BY THE CO-PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1989 · about 7:00 am local time
- Place
- Columbus, Indiana · Columbus Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC-3A · all DC-3As on the register
- Registration
- N143JR · no longer on the register · serial 199S
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
COPILOT MADE INSTRUMENT APPROACH AND LANDING, EXPERIENCED DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DIFFICULTIES ON ROLL OUT. PILOT IN COMMAND ASSUMED CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT AND STATED SUCH. COPILOT APPLIED EXCESSIVE BRAKING, AND NOSE OF AIRCRAFT STRUCK RUNWAY.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,200 hours in all; 2,300 in this make and model; 91 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 12,190 as pilot in command; 2,060 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51,749 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 30, 1989; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-1830-S1C3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAY Dayton OH at 6:15 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 23, 6,401 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 am from IND, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.