Amateur-built PIETENPOL GN-1 accident near Lake Village, Indiana, July 5, 1997
On July 5, 1997 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built PIETENPOL GN-1, registered N46844, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Village, Indiana (Lake Village airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inability to maintain sufficient airspeed and climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1997 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Village, Indiana · Lake Village
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETENPOL GN-1 PIETENPOL
- Registration
- N46844 · no longer on the register · serial 118
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After flying locally for 15 minutes, checking wind conditions, and boarding a passenger, the pilot departed for a local flight. Full power was achieved and takeoff was initiated. On climb-out, after establishing a positive rate of climb and reaching an altitude of 50 to 60 feet the pilot was unable to sustain sufficient airspeed. A hard landing in the overrun of the runway resulted in the right main gear collapsing and the airplane nosing over. Postinspection revealed no anomalies with the aircraft prior to the accident.
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: 600 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 21, 1996; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,128 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C98
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,480 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°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.
Other NTSB records under N46844 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.