Piper PA-28-181 accident near Louisville, Kentucky, May 19, 1995
On May 19, 1995 at about 8:56 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N43786, was substantially damaged in an accident near Louisville, Kentucky (Bowman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate planning which resulted in his failure to attain adequate airspeed for takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 1995 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Louisville, Kentucky · Bowman Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N43786 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7890015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS DETERMINED TO BE 2522.3 LBS. WITH C.G. OF 93 INCHES. HE BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND THE AIRPLANE ACCELERATED TO '55 KNOTS.' WHEN HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE THE AIRPLANE ROTATED, BUT DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE PILOT DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF. HE 'THROTTLED BACK, APPLIED BRAKES AND PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE. THE AIRPLANE DECELERATED, BUT DID NOT STOP. THE AIRPLANE CROSSED THE INTERSECTING RUNWAY, ONTO THE GRASS, STRUCK THE AIRPORT SECURITY FENCE AND STOPPED. THE FAA INSPECTOR WROTE IN HIS STATEMENT, THE 'CORRECTED TOTAL WEIGHT' AT TAKEOFF WAS 2,575 POUNDS, AND THE MAXIMUM CERTIFIED WEIGHT FOR TAKEOFF WAS '2,550' POUNDS.
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
- Flight time: 116 hours in all; 116 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 52 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,758 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 6, 1994; 238 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: K24 Jamestown KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,539 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:58 pm from LOU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.