Amateur-built VIKING accident near Decker, Indiana, August 10, 1995
On August 10, 1995 at about 5:50 pm local time, a amateur-built VIKING, registered N69VZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Decker, Indiana. It was a personal 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 failure of the head gasket resulting in a coolant leak and subsequent engine overtemperature. A factor was the unsuitable terrain encountered in the cornfield.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1995 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Decker, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VIKING
- Registration
- N69VZ · no longer on the register · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS CRUISING AT 2,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL AND NOTED THE WATER PRESSURE GAGE WAS PEGGED AT THE MAXIMUM INDICATION. HE IMMEDIATELY REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR AN EMERGENCY LANDING SITE. HE HEARD A 'LOUD POP' AND OBSERVED COOLANT ON THE WINDSCREEN. THE OIL TEMPERATURE INDICATION BEGAN TO INCREASE. HE TRIMMED FOR BEST GLIDE AND SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WHEN THE OIL TEMPERATURE REACHED 285 DEGREES. DURING THE FORCED LANDING IN A CORN FIELD, ONE OF THE LIFT STRUTS SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT ONE OF THE HEAD GASKETS WAS LEAKING AND COOLANT WAS ESCAPING FROM A LEAKING FREEZE PLUG. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE MANUFACTURER'S TORQUE PROCEDURE WAS FOLLOWED WHEN HE INSTALLED THE HEAD.
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: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,325 hours in all; 610 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 2,250 as pilot in command; 158 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 5, 1995; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ford 3.8L V-6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EVV Evansville IN at 4:15 pm
- Destination: AJG Mount Carmel IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.