Piper PA-22-108 accident near Lebanon, Indiana, March 12, 1994
On March 12, 1994 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-108, registered N5135Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lebanon, Indiana (Boone County airport). 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
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND. FACTORS WERE FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION AND AN UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ENCOUNTERED BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND DURING A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 12, 1994 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lebanon, Indiana · Boone County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-108 · all PA-22-108s on the register
- Registration
- N5135Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-8778
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A DEPARTURE CLIMB OUT THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING WHILE TRYING TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. ON SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION THE CARBURETOR AND PROPELLER WERE DAMAGED AND REPLACEMENTS WERE LOCATED AND INSTALLED. THE ENGINE RAN PROPERLY ON THE RIGHT, LEFT, AND BOTH MAGNETOS. TRACES OF WATER WERE FOUND WHILE DRAINING THE FUEL TANKS.
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
- Flight time: 330 hours in all; 121 in this make and model; 330 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: I72 Westfield IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.