Franklin EAA BI-PLANE/P1 accident near Rockville, Indiana, May 2, 1995
On May 2, 1995 at about 11:27 pm local time, a Franklin EAA BI-PLANE/P1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N3428, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockville, Indiana (Butler Field 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
the pilot's improper maintenance installation and his inadvertent takeoff. A factor was the pilot's inadequate pre-flight planning.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1995 · about 11:27 pm local time
- Place
- Rockville, Indiana · Butler Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Franklin EAA BI-PLANE/P1 EAA BI-PLA, amateur-built
- Registration
- N3428 · no longer on the register · serial 24610
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED IN HIS WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT HE WAS CONDUCTING AN ENGINE RUNUP BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT DEVELOP FULL POWER. HE DECIDED TO TAXI DOWN THE RUNWAY WITH NO INTENTION OF TAKING OFF, BUT INADVERTENTLY BECAME AIRBORNE. SHORTLY AFTER THE UNINTENTIONAL TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST PARTIAL POWER, TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND IMPACTED TERRAIN. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF HEAT DAMAGE AND ABNORMAL PISTON RING WEAR. THERE WERE SCRAPE MARKINGS ON THE PISTON, PISTON RINGS, AND CYLINDER WALL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PERFORMED THE CYLINDER AND RING CHANGE AND WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE CYLINDER AND RING COMBINATION WERE NOT COMPATIBLE.
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: 500 hours in all; 60 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7I8 at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,600 ft by 500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from HUF, 17 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.