Piper PA-24-250 accident near Decatur, Indiana, November 23, 1989
On November 23, 1989 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N5483P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decatur, Indiana. 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 PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY, INACCURATE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS, AND HIS IMPROPER IN-FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 23, 1989 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Decatur, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N5483P · no longer on the register · serial 24-543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED BEING LOW ON FUEL AND REQUESTED VECTORS TO THE NEAREST AIRPORT DURING THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. FUEL EXHAUSTION OCCURRED 15 MILES SHORT OF THE NEAREST AIRPORT AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A FIELD DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED. THE PILOT MISJUDGED THE INITIAL FUEL QUANTITY AT TAKEOFF AND FAILED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE HIGHER EN ROUTE POWER SETTINGS.
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: 345 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 242 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,892 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 13, 1989; 93 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCA Washington DC at 1:10 pm
- Destination: FWA Fort Wayne IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,100 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.