Amateur-built PIETENPOL accident near Delphi, Indiana, July 31, 1992
On July 31, 1992 at about 4:50 pm local time, a amateur-built PIETENPOL, registered N2739, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delphi, Indiana. 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
SEPARATION OF THE PROPELLER WHILE IN FLIGHT, AND UNSUITABLE TERRAIN TO EFFECT A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1992 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Delphi, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETENPOL
- Registration
- N2739 · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN PROPELLER SEPARATED. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD WITH HIGH GRASS. THE LANDING GEAR SANK INTO THE GROUND DURING THE ROLLOUT, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT FOUR OF SIX PROPELLER RETAINING BOLTS WERE CRACKED AND RUSTED ACROSS THEIR DIAMETER IN AMOUNTS VARYING FROM 30 TO 100%.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,836 hours in all; 402 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 1,717 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 402 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, July 25, 1992; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5I8 Greentown IN at 4:00 pm
- Destination: RZL Rensselaer IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,100 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:50 pm from LAF, 20 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.