Beech 76 accident near West Lafayette, Indiana, September 12, 1997
On September 12, 1997 at about 3:20 pm local time, a Beech 76, registered N18562, was destroyed in an accident near West Lafayette, Indiana (Purdue University airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadvertent stall. A related factor was the instructor pilot's failure to ensure the elevator trim was reset for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 12, 1997 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- West Lafayette, Indiana · Purdue University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N18562 · no longer on the register · serial ME421
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight lesson was to introduce single-engine operations to the dual student. The airplane took off, and remained in the traffic pattern, performed two touch-and-go's. The instructor pilot requested a full stop, taxied back, which was approved by the air traffic control tower (ATCT). The airplane landed and was taxied to an intersection. The ATCT cleared the airplane for takeoff and for the option. A witness on the ground said he heard the airplane 'rev up its motors, as if to takeoff; then the motors went to idle, then they revved up again and the plane left.' Several witnesses saw the airplane takeoff to the west. At approximately 100 to 150 feet above ground level, the airplane pitched up steeply and winged over to the right. The airplane nosed straight down into the ground. The airplane burst into flames on impact. Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The elevator trim jackscrew assembly was observed in a position equating to 10 degrees of nose up trim.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,060 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 910 as pilot in command; 586 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,656 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 3, 1997; 117 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: LAF at 3:19 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 4,226 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:25 pm from LAF, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.