Piper PA-32-301 accident near Marion, Indiana, January 31, 1996
On January 31, 1996 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N800TC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marion, Indiana (Marion Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 31, 1996 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marion, Indiana · Marion Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N800TC · registry record · serial 32-8106001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that upon landing the airplane 'veered left off the runway. It felt like the left brake was locked up.' The airplane went through a ditch off the edge of the runway and through the field to the crosswind runway. When the airplane's nosewheel contacted the edge of the crosswind runway it collapsed, and the airplane came to a stop on the crosswind runway. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies in the flight controls, engine, engine controls or brakes. An airplane and powerplant mechanic on the airport reported that the airplane's brakes functioned normally while towing the airplane from the accident site.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,660 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 5, 1995; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,615 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALO Waterloo IA at 5:25 pm
- Destination: MZZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,596 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 3°F (-16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.