Piper PA-31 accident near Anderson, Indiana, October 19, 1995
On October 19, 1995 at about 10:47 am local time, a Piper PA-31, registered N693MA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anderson, Indiana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate maintenance in that an engine oil line was not properly tightened after routine maintenance. A factor was the disconnected oil line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 19, 1995 · about 10:47 am local time
- Place
- Anderson, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31 · all PA-31s on the register
- Registration
- N693MA · registry record · serial 31-7852005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF AT 4000 FEET MSL, THE LEFT ENGINE AREA ERUPTED IN FLAMES. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS EXECUTED. A POST FLIGHT EXAMINATION REVEALED THE OIL LINE WHICH SUPPLIES THE LEFT TURBOCHARGER WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED. THE DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE (DOM) FOR THE COMPANY OWNING N693MA STATED THIS WAS THE AIRCRAFT'S FIRST FLIGHT AFTER A 50 HOUR INSPECTION. THE DOM STATED THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL PRACTICE TO REMOVE THE OIL LINE TO THE TURBOCHARGER DURING A 50 HOUR INSPECTION.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,670 hours in all; 839 in this make and model; 72 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 11,670 as pilot in command; 2,548 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MIE Muncie IN
- Destination: IND Indianapolis IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from IND, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.