Piper PA-28-140 accident near Culver, Indiana, July 7, 1995
On July 7, 1995 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N632FL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Culver, Indiana (Fleet Field). 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
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, WHILE PERFORMING A GO-AROUND. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE PROXIMITY OF TREES BESIDE THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 7, 1995 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Culver, Indiana · Fleet Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N632FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST SOLO FLIGHT. THE STUDENT REPORTED HIS APPROACH TO LANDING WAS NORMAL, BUT THE AIRPLANE WAS A LITTLE HIGH. REALIZING THERE WAS AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF RUNWAY REMAINING TO MAKE A NORMAL LANDING, THE STUDENT PILOT DECIDED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. A WITNESS STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS IN AN EXCESSIVELY NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE AS THE STUDENT ADDED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO CLIMB AND DRIFT TO THE LEFT AS THE STUDENT CORRECTED THE AIRPLANE'S ATTITUDE. AS THE GO-AROUND WAS CONTINUED, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE AND WING CONTACTED A TREE BESIDE THE RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND.
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: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,799 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 22, 1995; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IN73 at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,400 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°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.