Piper PA-18-L21B accident near Vincennes, Indiana, May 10, 1999
On May 10, 1999 at about 1:40 am local time, a Piper PA-18-L21B, registered N3VU, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vincennes, Indiana (Vincennes-O'Neal 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 after landing. Factors which contributed to this accident were the pilot's long touchdown, the rough area on the runway, and the wheat field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1999 · about 1:40 am local time
- Place
- Vincennes, Indiana · Vincennes-O'Neal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-L21B · all PA-18-L21Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3VU · registry record · serial 18-3987
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he made a smooth touchdown about halfway down runway 21 (2,350 X 100) at the O'Neal Airport, Vincennes, Indiana. The pilot said that shortly after touchdown, the airplane hit a rough spot on the runway. The airplane bounced into the air, and the tail began to shift around. The pilot said that he couldn't get on the brakes because he was busy trying to keep the airplane straight. The airplane veered to the right and departed the runway into a wheat field. The plane slowed, but suddenly stopped and nosed over slowly on to its back. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies.
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: 74 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,505 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1999; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OEA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 2,350 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.