# NTSB CEN25LA181: Grumman TBM-3, N420GP, Terre Haute, IN, May 15, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 15, 2025, 13:39 local (17:39 UTC)
- Place: Terre Haute, IN
- Coordinates: 39.460264, -87.295844
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4603&lon=-87.2958&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - Indianapolis FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200174
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA181
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200174/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA181

## Preliminary report

On May 15, 2025, about 1339 eastern daylight time, a Grumman TBM-3 airplane, N420GP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Terre Haute, Indiana. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 positioning flight. The pilot reported that while on final approach to the runway, he attempted to increase engine power, but the engine did not respond. He began troubleshooting by switching fuel tanks and completing the emergency checklist item; however, engine power was not restored. The pilot executed a forced landing, and the airplane touched down on the airport perimeter road. The airplane then impacted a drainage ditch, struck the airport perimeter fence, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage and empennage. The airplane was recovered to a secure facility for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman TBM-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3950308), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N420GP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N420GP), registered now, S/N 53420, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN TBM-3
- Registry model: [Grumman TBM-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-tbm-3) (registry code 3950308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright R-2600 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-r-2600-series) (registry code 67050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 53420
- Year built: 1944
- Airframe hours: 4914.6
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Tri-State Warbird Museum
- Registered owner: Tri-State Warbird Museum
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Limited (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 2025, 1.5 hours before
- Departed: I69, Batavia, OH
- Destination: HUF, Terre Haute, IN
- Airport: HUF, Terre Haute Rgnl, runway 05/23, 9,021 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observed at: KHUF, 1 nm away
- METAR: KHUF 151653Z 18012G20KT 10SM CLR 29/22 A2965 RMK AO2 SLP035 T02890222

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20250515005459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250515005459A), May 15, 2025: Grumman TBM-3, Terre Haute, IN, Substantial damage. On may 15, 2025, at approximately 13:59 EDT, a Grumman TBM-3 avenger, lost engine power while on final approach to runway 23 at the Terre Haute Regional…

## Other investigations on N420GP (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 CHI06FA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06FA206), Jul 30, 2006: Grumman TBM-3 (N420GP), Oshkosh, WI, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The Avenger pilot's visual lookout was inadequate and he failed to maintain clearance from the RV-6. Contributing factors were the Avenger's restricted visibility and the RV-6.

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.

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