Piper PA-18-180 accident near Bardstown, Kentucky, September 27, 2003
On September 27, 2003 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-18-180, registered N4314Z, was destroyed in an accident near Bardstown, Kentucky (Samuels Field). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain aircraft control for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2003 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bardstown, Kentucky · Samuels Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-18-180 · all PA-18-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4314Z · no longer on the register · serial 18-8625
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot seated in the rear seat was teaching glider-tow operations to the pilot seated in the front seat. After completing six landings, the pilots refueled the airplane, and then departed from runway 02 and took off. Several minutes later, witnesses heard an explosion, and observed a fire near the departure end of the runway. However, there were no known eye-witnesses to the accident. The airplane had impacted a grass area, left a debris path of approximately 95 feet, and came to rest about 75 feet prior to the runway. The debris path was right of runway centerline, oriented about a 150-degree heading, and progressed toward runway 20. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions with the airframe or engine, and the fuel selector was found positioned near the left tank setting.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,063 hours in all; 78 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 951 as pilot in command; 53 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 30, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 664 hours in all; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 650 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 26, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,901 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 2003; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: BRY Bardstown KY at 5:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 5,003 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from FTK, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.