Amateur-built MINICAB GY20 accident near Albion, Indiana, August 10, 1996
On August 10, 1996 at about 4:39 pm local time, a amateur-built MINICAB GY20, registered N263AM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Albion, Indiana (B & V Flying Ranch airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudgment of distance and altitude during the approach to land, and his failure to attain the proper touchdown point. Factors relating to the accident were: the uneven and uphill terrain conditions at the approach end of the airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1996 · about 4:39 pm local time
- Place
- Albion, Indiana · B & V Flying Ranch · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built MINICAB GY20 MINICAB GY
- Registration
- N263AM · registry record · serial 232A
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a landing, the airplane touched down approximately 110 feet short of the approach end of runway 09. Terrain in the touchdown area was approximately 7 feet below that of the runway. The airplane continued onto the runway where it nosed over. The pilot had not landed on the airstrip for over two years. The airstrip owner had cleared a wooded area near the approach end of the runway. The pilot stated he knew the owner was doing this, and he thought the owner had also extended the runway length. The end of the runway was marked with white cloth tied around stakes.
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: 10,000 hours in all; 259 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1996; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,133 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bryan OH at 4:00 pm
- Destination: 98IN IN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°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.