Piper PA-28-140 accident near Mooresville, Indiana, August 2, 1990
On August 2, 1990 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1753T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mooresville, Indiana (Milhan Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMANDS FAILURE TO LAND WITH ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING RESULTING IN A RUNWAY OVERUN AND ON GROUND COLLISION WITH A WALL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 1990 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mooresville, Indiana · Milhan Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1753T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125070
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE HIS INTENDED DESTINATION AIRPORT, SO HE DECIDED TO LAND AT ANOTHER AIRPORT IN THE AREA TO GET DIRECTIONS. HE TOLD THE STATE POLICE THAT HE APPROACHED THE 2,400 FOOT LONG GRASS RUNWAY WITH FULL FLAPS, BUT WHEN HE FLARED 'IT JUST SEEMED LIKE MY PLANE WAS FLOATING. IT JUST WOULDN'T SET DOWN.' ACCORDING TO POLICE MEASUREMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN WITH APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING; THE PILOT FAILED TO GET THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED BEFORE IT RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A ROCK COVERED EMBANKMENT.
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: 430 hours in all; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DNV Danville IL at 3:20 pm
- Destination: 6I9 Mcdaniel IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from IND, 10 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.