Cessna 182A accident near Colfax, Indiana, August 19, 1992
On August 19, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N5197D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Colfax, Indiana (Larsh Flightpark Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY AND A PREMATURE LIFT OFF. FACTORS WERE UPHILL TERRAIN AND UNFAVORABLE (QUARTERING/TAIL) WIND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Colfax, Indiana · Larsh Flightpark Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N5197D · no longer on the register · serial 51297
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ELECTED TO INITIATE A TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS RUNWAY WHICH HAD AN UPHILL GRADIENT IN THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. AT THE TIME OF THE TAKEOFF RUN THERE WAS A QUARTERING TAILWIND. THE PILOT INITIATED A PREMATURE LIFT OFF AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE AIRPLANE TO THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE AIRPLANE SETTLED, BUT NOT ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY DIRECTION. CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,491 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Touch N Go Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 7:00 pm
- Destination: CFJ Crawfordsville IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,860 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from LAF, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.