Piper PA-28 accident near Indianapolis, Indiana, May 30, 1993
On May 30, 1993 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N2816A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Indianapolis, Indiana (Eagle Creek airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a misjudged flare and subsequent hard landing by the student pilot. A factor in the accident was the student pilot's failure to perform a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1993 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Indianapolis, Indiana · Eagle Creek · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N2816A · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE DURING THE LANDING FLARE, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO BALLOON. SHE SAID THE AIRPLANE SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED HARD ON THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSEWHEEL AND BOUNCED INTO THE AIR. THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ON THE RUNWAY SURFACE TWO MORE TIMES BEFORE EXITING THE RUNWAY AND COMING TO REST. THE PILOT SAID THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF SHE HAD PERFORMED A GO-AROUND.
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: student
- Flight time: 179 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 118 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 31, 1993; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 23,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HUF Terre Haute IN at 4:00 am
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 21, 4,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from IND, 5 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.