# Accident 20260320005469A: Piper PA-28-140, Rock Falls, IL, March 20, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 20, 2026, 15:03 local time
- Place: Rock Falls, IL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.7401° N, 89.6684° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7401&lon=-89.6684&mi=10
- Aircraft: N9913W, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9913W) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-140 (registry code 7102802, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (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-28-140
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 20 total, 20 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA141) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260320005469A

## Narrative

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

ON MARCH 20, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1510 ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED WHITESIDE COUNTY/ JOS H BITTORF FIELD (KSQI) RUNWAY 25. WEATHER (WX) WAS VFR CONDITIONS WITH THE WIND INDICATED AS 310 @ 14G22 KTS.

WHILE ON DOWNWIND OF RUNWAY 25 THE LEFT-WING TIP IMPACTED THE SURFACE WHICH PROPELLED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE SURFACE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY .5 MILES SOUTH OF (KSQI). THE PROPELLOR DISPLAYED SIGNS OF LOW TO NO POWER AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE PILOT DID NOT SURVIVE THE CRASH.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS DEMOLISHED, RESTING ON THE BELLY. THE PROPELLER BLADE TIPS APPEARED STRAIGHT, WITH ONE BLADE BENDING AFT. THERE WAS GROUND SCARRING INDICATING THE LEFT WING AND ENGINE IMPACTED THE GROUND AT A HIGH ANGLE AND HIGH VELOCITY, AND LEFT WING WAS COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE EMPENNAGE. THE RIGHT WING WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE EMPENNAGE. RUDDER AND HORIZONTAL STABILATOR CONTROL CABLES WERE INTACT, OTHER CONTROL SURFACE CHECKS COULD NOT BE COMPLETED DUE TO THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE, LIKELY OCCURRING UPON IMPACT. THE LANDING GEAR (FIXED) WAS DEMOLISHED, WITH ONE WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE IMPACT SITE. THE LEFT- AND RIGHT-WING FUEL TANKS AND ENGINE CARBURETOR FLOAT BOWL WERE EXPOSED TO THE ATMOSPHERE, LEAVING FUEL QUANTITY UNDETERMINED. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF FIRE.

## 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 CEN26FA141](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26FA141), Mar 20, 2026: Piper PA-28-140 (N9913W), Rock Falls, IL, destroyed, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing

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.