# Accident 19960831032959A: Piper PA32RT300T, Chicago, IL, August 31, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 31, 1996, 09:00 local time
- Place: Chicago, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7394° N, 87.6494° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7394&lon=-87.6494&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2087A, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2087A) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-32RT-300T (registry code 7103216, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT300T
- Reported engine: LYC TIO540S1AD
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 375 total, 20 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA333) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960831032959A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING PHOTO FLIGHT ENGINE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND QUIT. COLLAPSED GEAR ON FORCED LANDING. DEPLETED A FUEL TANK. (-23) DURING A PHOTOGRAPHY FLIGHT, THE ENGINE GRADUALLY LOST POWER AND QUIT. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING A FORCED LANDING.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 CHI96LA333](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA333), Aug 31, 1996: Piper PA-32 (N2087A), Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and loss of engine power. A factor relating to the accident was: the pilot's improper flare during the forced landing.

## Other reports on N2087A (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19821001060139I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19821001060139I), Oct 1, 1982: Piper PA32RT300T (N2087A), Cleveland, OH, Minor damage. Unable to reach flight rotation speed, pilot aborted takeoff. Found parking brake was partially set by passenger.
- [Incident 19790722019509I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790722019509I), Jul 22, 1979: Piper PA32RT300T (N2087A), Charleston, WV, Minor damage. Wingtip struck prop spinner of parked 54835 while being taxied for takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
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.
