Piper PA-32-300 accident near Demotte, Indiana, March 20, 1993
On March 20, 1993 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N8655N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Demotte, Indiana (Demotte 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 instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR PLANNED APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 1993 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Demotte, Indiana · Demotte · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N8655N · no longer on the register · serial 32-7240005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED HE CIRCLED THE AIRFIELD TO CHECK THE WIND, THEN SET UP A TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 36. THE PILOT MADE A GO AROUND AFTER THE FIRST APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY, THEN LANDED ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT. THE AIRPLANE SKIDDED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT STATED HE APPLIED HEAVY BRAKING, BUT THE '...SURFACE WAS WET AND SLUSHY...THE WHEELS COULD NOT GET A HOLD ON THE GROUND.' THE PILOT REPORTED THE ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE'D USED A SLOWER AIRSPEED DURING THE APPROACH TO LANDING.
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: 530 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 452 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,501 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 1992; 233 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mentone Flying Club
The flight
- Departed from: RCR Rochester IN at 5:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded at 800 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.