# Incident 20030417010139I: Piper PA31T1, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, April 17, 2003

- Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 17, 2003, 05:50 local time
- Place: Chicago/Wheelin, IL
- Airport: Pal-Waukee Airport
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.1142° N, 87.9014° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1142&lon=-87.9014&mi=10
- Aircraft: N855JL, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N855JL-2026-01-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31T1 (registry code 7103126, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: U/A Canada PT6A series (registry code 61508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31T1
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,572 total, 9 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI03IA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03IA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030417010139I

## Narrative

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

(-23) DURING APPROACH TO LANDING AT THE PALWAUKEE AIRPORT AT SUNRISE, THE AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN AT SIGNIFICANTLY LOW ALTITUDE TO CAUSE IMPACT WITH POWER LINES OFF THE END OF RUNWAY 6. THE WIRES WERE CUT AND THE TOPS OF 2 POLES BROKE OFF ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO CONTINUE TO LANDING WITHOUT CRASHING. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED WITH THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DAMAGED AND PROPELLER. SUSPECT PILOT COMPETENCY ON THE PARTS OF BOTH PILOTS. THE PILOT IN THE RIGHT SEAT WAS A CURRENT CFI SUSPECTED IN CONDUCTING TRAINING. THE PILOT (PIC) HAD ONLY FLOWN ONE (1) FLIGHT IN WHICH HE RECEIVED NINE (9) HOURS IN A TURBOPROP AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CHI03IA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03IA108), Apr 17, 2003: Piper PA-31T1 (N855JL), Wheeling, IL, incident, minor damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance and the inadequate glidepath which resulted in a collision with a utility pole. Contributing factors were the lack of experience in the incident…

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.

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