# Accident 20090802048719A: Piontkowski CHALLENGER, Kankakee, IL, August 2, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2009, 19:52 local time
- Place: Kankakee, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.0714° N, 87.8461° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0714&lon=-87.8461&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4526G, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4526G-2015-05-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS (registry code 056251D, https://openairdocs.org/model/piontkowski-jeffrey-j-challenger-lss) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (registry code 55566, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIONTKOWSKI CHALLENGER
- Reported engine: ROTAX 503 DCDI
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 194 total, 69 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09LA488](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA488) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090802048719A

## Narrative

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

MR. PIONTKOWSKI DEPARTED THE GREATER KANKAKEE AIRPORT.  HE FLEW OVER THE RIVER AT AN ALTITUDE LOWER THAN THE TREETOPS AS DESCRIBED BY TWO WITNESSES.  HE IMPACTED A WIRE THAT RAN FROM THE SHORELINE TO AN ISLAND.  DURING THE RESCUE AND ENSUING SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO RESUSCITATE MR. PIONTKOWSKI, ONE OF THE RESCUERS (A KANKAKEE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY) DETECTED THE ODOR OF ALCOHOL ON THE PILOT.  MR. PIONTKOWSKI WAS TRANSPORTED TO RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL WHERE A TEST WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION.  BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE TEST, MR. PIONTKOWSKI WAS ISSUED SEVERAL CITATIONS BY THE KANKAKEE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT FOR VIOLATION OF STATE STATUTES CONCERNING OPERATING AN AIRCRAFT WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.

## 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 CEN09LA488](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA488), Aug 3, 2009: Piontkowski Challenger (N4526G), Kankakee, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the telephone line and his poor judgment to fly while under the influence of alcohol. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the…

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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