# NTSB CEN26LA146: Piper PA-24-250, N7548P, Madison, IN, March 21, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 21, 2026, 16:00 UTC - Place: Madison, IN · in muddy field near airport windsock. - Coordinates: 38.761819, -85.465521 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7618&lon=-85.4655&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Indianapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 202694 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202694/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202694 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA146 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed during takeoff and exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-250, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102404), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff rotation there was a slight vibration in the airplane and the controls felt “mushy.” The pilot lost aircraft control as the left wing stalled and dropped. The pilot aborted the takeoff and managed to get the wings level before impacting a ditch and coming to rest upright in a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Airport management personnel reviewed an airport security camera video that captured the accident sequence. The video was consistent with the pilot’s description of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7548P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7548P), registered now, S/N 24-2756 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-250 (Commanche) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-2756 - Year built: 1961 - Airframe hours: 3052.4 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540-A1D5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Secolad N7548P LLC - Registered owner: Secolad N7548P LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 2025, 106 hours before - Departed: IMS, Madison, IN - Destination: DBQ, Dubuque, IA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: IMS, Madison Rgnl, runway 03/21, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 523 total, 271 in this make and model, 412 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 40 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KBAK, 36 nm away - METAR: METAR KBAK 211445Z 14008KT 10SM CLR 15/ A2996 ## Other investigations on N7548P (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 UNK65X1377](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK65X1377), Jan 31, 1965: Piper PA24 (N7548P), Gadsden, AL, substantial damage ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202694. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20172361&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA146%20pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airport authority witness statements (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20172192&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Incident%20Report%20N7549P_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 611 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20166551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA146%20NTSB%20photo%20list-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.