Piper PA-18 accident near Terre Haute, Indiana, June 19, 1994
On June 19, 1994 at about 6:31 pm local time, a Piper PA-18, registered N81TW, was destroyed in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana (Hulman Regional airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot-in-command's inadvertant stall of the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the elevator trim position.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1994 · about 6:31 pm local time
- Place
- Terre Haute, Indiana · Hulman Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18 · all PA-18s on the register
- Registration
- N81TW · no longer on the register · serial 18-3515
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The surviving second pilot reported he was conducting a simulated short field takeoff and the senior pilot-in-command was also on the controls. They were distracted during the takeoff roll when the second pilot discovered his seat belt was not fastened. He said he fastened it and continued the takeoff. The tower controller who witnessed the accident reported the nose of the airplane appeared to be excessively high. The airplane reached a maximum altitude of about 200 feet. The left wing dipped and the airplane impacted the terrain. Postaccident investigation revealed the elevator trim jack screw was in the full nose up position. Investigation disclosed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunction.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,293 hours in all; 110 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 998 as pilot in command; 718 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,722 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 10, 1993; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: American Trans Air Training CO
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 9,020 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:34 pm from HUF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.