Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Lebanon, Indiana, July 4, 1991
On July 4, 1991 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N503DB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Indiana (Sport Aircraft Fld. airport). It was a personal 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
FAILURE TO MAINTAIN STALL AIRSPEED WHILE EXECUTING A FORCED LANDING. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT IS FAILURE OF THE ENGINE STARTER CLUTCH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 1991 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Indiana · Sport Aircraft Fld. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N503DB · registry record · serial 90CW0554
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AFTER PERFORMING A FLY OVER OF A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. PILOT ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A FORCED LANDING WITHIN THE FIELD BOUNDARIES AND STALLED THE AIRCRAFT AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET ABOVE GROUND, AND IMPACTED IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A FAILED ENGINE STARTER CLUTCH CAUSED THE POWER LOSS.
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: 404 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 314 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 24, 1991; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 677 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 614 IN at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,600 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from IND, 22 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.