- Date
- September 13, 1986, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Danville, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7277PPiper PA-24-180
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19860913046279A
- Case key
- 13523
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Loss of control - on ground/water
Terrain condition - loose gravel/sandyFactor
Directional control - not maintainedCause
Ground loop/swerve - uncontrolled
On ground/water encounter with terrain/water
Terrain condition - cropFactor
Analysis
The aircraft veered off the left side of the gravel runway during the takeoff ground roll. The pilot stated that the airstrip was surrounded by cornstalks, and that on the left side of the airstrip, there was deep loose gravel. Reportedly, the loose gravel caught the left wheel and swerved the aircraft into the corn field.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7277P
- Reported as
- Piper PA-24-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 242453
- Airframe hours
- 2,670
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- William Shafer
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1986
- Departed
- 79I · Danville, IN
- Airport
- 79I · Temple Field, runway 9, 2,500 × 30 ft, gravel
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,374 total · 162 in this make and model · 1,374 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- IND, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.