Navion NAVION G N2453T

Summary

On 20 September 2004 at about 01:00 local time, a Navion NAVION G registered N2453T was involved in an accident near Knox, Indiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2004 at 01:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Knox, Indiana, United States

Nearest airport

Starke County (OXI)

Coordinates

41.3303, -86.6647

Aircraft

Navion NAVION G

Registration

N2453T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Michigan City → Knox

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI04LA262

1 person had minor injuries.

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident were the unsuitable terrain encountered, the dark night conditions, and the ditch.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a ditch during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on an approach. The pilot stated, "I was flying home from a diner in Michigan City. Just as I was approaching [Starke County Airport] it felt like I hit a curb in a car. The plane shifted to the right. The engine [was] quiet. All the engine lights came on, I tried to add power but it was dead. I lowered the gear and focused on flying the plane without power. I did not use flaps thinking I could glide farther. I set her down on her wheels and rolled into the ditch at the end of the field." The sheriff's report stated that two witnesses "saw the plane coming in slow and did not hear the motor running and saw the plane set down in a field and then go into the ditch." Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and local wind was 090 degrees at 03 knots. The pilot reported that there was 35 gallons of fuel left in the airplane. On-scene examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. The engine was test run and it produced rated power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.