# Accident 20260926013259A: Fairchild 24 H, Indianapolis, IN, September 26, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2026, 10:30 local time
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Airport: Eagle Creek Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Rollout
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.8290° N, 86.2942° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8290&lon=-86.2942&mi=10
- Aircraft: N16902, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16902) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fairchild 24 H (registry code 3370302, https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-24-h) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Fairchild 6-440 series (registry code 26003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD 24 H
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,715 total, 43 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA333) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260926013259A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2026, AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ A1937 FAIRCHILD 24 H LANDED AT EAGLE CREEK AIRPARK (KEYE).

THE AIRCRAFT HAD TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 03 WITHOUT ISSUE,  DURING ROLLOUT, AFTER THE TAILWHEEL SETTLED, IT VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS, AND STRUCK A HILL THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST.

A PHYSICAL INSPECTION REVEALED A CLICKING NOISE IN THE PILOT'S SIDE FLOORBOARD. REMOVAL OF THE FLOORBOARD IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT RUDDER AND BRAKE BELL CRANK WAS CATCHING ON A BENT BRACKET. THIS BRACKET CHAFED INTO THE BELL CRANK, CREATING A GROOVE THAT CAUSED THE PEDAL TO STICK INTERMITTENTLY. WHILE NOT THE SOLE CAUSE, THIS STICKING RUDDER PEDAL COULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT BY CAUSING THE PILOT TO OVER CORRECT DURING ROLLOUT. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED IF FUTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS ARE DISCOVERED IN THE FUTURE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA333), Sep 26, 2026: Fairchild 24H (N16902), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.