Piper PA-28-180 accident near Gary, Indiana, September 9, 1992
On September 9, 1992 at about 12:51 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N33662, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gary, Indiana (Gary Regional airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO LAND AT THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT ON THE RUNWAY AND LANDING WITH EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 9, 1992 · about 12:51 pm local time
- Place
- Gary, Indiana · Gary Regional
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N33662 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7505164
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE LANDED LONG AND OVERRAN THE RUNWAY DURING A DOWNWIND LANDING FROM AN INSTRUMENT APPROACH. IT COLLIDED WITH THE ILS LOCALIZER ANTENNA ARRAY FOR THAT RUNWAY AND A DITCH. THE PILOT STATED THERE WAS LIGHTNING ALL AROUND HIM AND HE WAS FLYING IN HEAVY RAIN AS HE WAS BEING VECTORED FOR THE APPROACH. HE REPORTED THE GLIDESLOPE WAS BELOW HIM AS HE TURNED ONTO THE LOCALIZER. HE STATED HE HAD THE AIRPORT IN SIGHT DURING THE ILS APPROACH AND 'FELT CONFIDENT' HE COULD MAKE A SAFE LANDING. THE PILOT ESTIMATED HIS TOUCHDOWN SPEED AT 90 KNOTS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE PILOT BEGAN BRAKING BUT WAS UNABLE TO STOP BEFORE RUNNING OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE TOWER CONTROLLER WORKING IN THE TOWER STATED THE AIRPLANE DID NOT TOUCH DOWN UNTIL THERE WAS LESS THAN 2,000 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 167 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 137 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,151 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 16, 1992; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skypark Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: I17 Piqua OH at 11:05 am
- Destination: CGX Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 3, 7,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.