Piper PA-28 accident near Lafeyette, Indiana, July 14, 1996
On July 14, 1996 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N4798F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lafeyette, Indiana (Aretz 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. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1996 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Lafeyette, Indiana · Aretz · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N4798F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725029
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot cancelled his VFR flight plan due to heavy weather en route and returned to his departure airport. He used full flaps during the landing because he was high on final approach. Just prior to touchdown a gust of wind pushed the airplane off the left side of the runway. The pilot added full power and raised the flaps to 25 degrees to go-around, but was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane. The airplane continued off the left side of the runway where it impacted trees. The pilot reported winds 300 degrees at 13 knots.
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
- Flight time: 69 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,165 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 29, 1996; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3AR at 5:20 pm
- Destination: CGX Chicago IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 25, 2,812 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.