# NTSB CHI96LA008: Piper PA-22, N834A, Crawfordsville, IN, October 15, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 1995, 17:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Crawfordsville, IN - Location: 40.0402° N, 86.8980° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Crawfordsville, IN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0402&lon=-86.8980&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Uncontrolled descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report December 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10131/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA008 ## Probable cause The pilot's premature raising of the flaps and the low airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - raising of flaps - premature, pilot in command (cause) - flaps - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - low, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT PERFORMED A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF WITH FULL FLAPS AT 65 MPH. HE THEN RETRACTED FLAPS TO FULL UP POSITION. HE SAID THE AIRPLANE FELT AS IF IT WAS IN A DOWNDRAFT CONDITION WITH THE AIRSPEED NEVER GETTING OVER 65 MPH. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED LEFT WING LOW IN A FIELD. THE PA-22 FLIGHT MANUAL DOES NOT ADDRESS FULL OR PARTIAL FLAP TAKEOFFS. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 1995, at 1750 central daylight time, a Piper, PA-22, N834A, piloted by the private pilot, collided with trees and terrain on departure from Shades Airstrip near Crawfordsville, Indiana. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and two passengers on board the airplane reported minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and was originating at the time of the accident. From the pilot's written statement, he performed a short field takeoff at 65 miles per hour (MPH) followed by a left turn to avoid terrain. He then raised full flaps to the full up position at 100 feet above ground level (AGL). The airplane then began to develop a sink rate. The airplane impacted the ground left wing low and rolled inverted. The pilot stated, "...I did not suspect a loss of power and kept waiting to be out of severe down draft and start climbing again. I never heard a change in power. ...I can't believe the airplane was stalled and that I made two left turns... ." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved PA-22 flight manual states, the gross weight power-off stalling speed with full flaps is 48 MPH, with flaps up the stalling speed increases about 4 MPH. The best rate of climb airspeed at gross weight is 87 MPH with flaps retracted. The PA-22 flight manual recommends a climbing speed of 100 MPH. The FAA approved flight manual does not address a full or partial flap takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N834A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N834A-1996-03-06), registration cancelled 1996-03-06, S/N 22134 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-22 - Registry model: [Piper PA-22](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-22) (registry code 7102202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 22-134 - Airframe hours: 1550 - Engines: LYCOMING O-290-D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Purdy, Dwight E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 25, 1995, 13 hours before - Departed: 8I2 - Airport: 8I2, Shades State Park, runway 27, 3,745 × 135 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,050 total, 76 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 11 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IND, 37 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19951015045329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951015045329A), Oct 15, 1995: Piper PA22, Waveland, IN, Destroyed. Short field takeoff full flaps. Then dumped same. Settled. Impacted wing low. (-23) N834A, a PA-22, departed runway 27 at Shades State park at approx. 5:00 pm… ## Other investigations on N834A (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 CHI66F0343](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI66F0343), Oct 5, 1965: Piper PA-22 (N834A), Lawrence, MI, substantial damage 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.