DATE: 04/12/2025
SUBJECT: Minor Plane Incident at Skylane Airport
RELEASE NUMBER: 2025-NR-0412A
CONTACT: Sheriff Noah Robinson
AUTHORITY: Sheriff Noah Robinson
On April 12, 2025, at approximately 4:33 PM, deputies with the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to Skylane Airport following a report of an aircraft experiencing landing gear failure.
Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the pilot, Steven Eberhart, who reported that during landing, the nose gear of his aircraft collapsed, causing the plane to pitch forward on the runway. Mr. Eberhart, along with his passenger were both secured in five-point harnesses and did not sustain any injuries. Neither party required medical attention.
The aircraft, a small red and white single-propeller plane bearing tail number N14SE, sustained visible damage, including a bent nose gear, damaged wooden propellers, and impact damage to the underside of the fuselage.
Due to flooding in the area, deputies experienced difficulty accessing the airport directly and were required to enter through adjacent neighborhoods.
As no injuries were reported, the incident was self-reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by the pilot. Per FAA guidelines, no further federal investigation will be conducted.
The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office will complete an incident report documenting deputies’ observations.
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