# Accident 20200918017589A: Piper PA-28-151, Huntley, IL, September 18, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 18, 2020, 21:45 local time
- Place: Huntley, IL
- Airport: Phyllis Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.2215° N, 88.4164° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2215&lon=-88.4164&mi=10
- Aircraft: N43020, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43020) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-151 (registry code 7102805, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-151
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 435 total, 302 in this make and model, 151 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA405) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200918017589A

## Narrative

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

DESCRIPTION OF DEVIATION: ON 09/18/2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 2145 CDT. N43020 A PIPER-28 AIRCRAFT, LANDED TO THE RIGHT OF RUNWAY 07 AT PHYLLIS FIELD (6IL2) AT NIGHT. THE RUNWAY WAS ILLUMINATED BY AN AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHT WHO WAS FACING WEST AT THE END OF RUNWAY 25. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS ON BOARD AND NO INJURIES.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED ON A WRITTEN STATEMENT THAT HE LANDED AT 6IL2 EARLIER THAT DAY AND INTENDED TO COME BACK AT NIGHT. HE COORDINATED WITH A FRIEND WHO HAD A JEEP WITH FLOODLIGHTS TO LIGHT UP THE RUNWAY BUT FAILED TO MENTION WHAT DIRECTION HE WANTED THE LIGHTS TO POINT AND WHAT DIRECTION HE WAS INTENDING TO LAND. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE WAS HAVING TROUBLE SEEING IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT BUT HE THOUGHT HE COULD ?FOLLOW THE LIGHT? TO LINE HIMSELF UP WITH THE RUNWAY. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT RIGHT BEFORE TOUCHDOWN HE RECOGNIZED THAT THE GRASS SEEMED LONGER THAN NORMAL BUT HE DID NOT REALIZE HE WAS OFF THE RUNWAY. N43020 ENDED UP APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET TO THE RIGHT END OF THE RUNWAY AND CONTINUED SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY FOR APPROXIMATELY 410 FEET HITTING A TREE 41 FEET SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY EDGE. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS COMPLIANT DURING THIS INVESTIGATION. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ LACK OF DECISION MAKING GIVEN THE RATINGS HE HAS IS AN EXAMPLE OF §91.13- CARELESS OR RECKLESS OPERATION. THIS CASE IS CONSIDERED CLOSED WITH 44709.

## 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 CEN20CA405](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA405), Sep 19, 2020: Piper PA28 (N43020), Huntley, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to land at night without runway lighting, which resulted in a collision with an object.

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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