# Accident 20260513006609A: Piper PA-28R-201, West Chicago, IL, May 13, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2026, 10:00 local time
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.9071° N, 88.2480° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9071&lon=-88.2480&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31401, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N31401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28R-201 (registry code 7102816, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201
- People aboard: 3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 833 total, 173 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA186) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260513006609A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 13, 2026, AROUND 9:50AM CST, A COMMERCIAL, INSTRUMENT RATE PILOT WAS OPERATING A 1978 PIPER ARROW – ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ – AT DUPAGE AIRPORT (KDPA) PREPARING FOR A DEPARTURE ON A PERSONAL FLIGHT TO BE CONDUCTED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES TO SOUTHERN WISCONSIN REGIONAL AIRPORT (KJVL) WITH TWO NON-PILOT RATED PASSENGERS. WEATHER WAS VFR WITH 10 MILES VISIBILITY BUT STRONG GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS 340 AT 17 KNOTS GUSTING 28 KNOTS.

THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO FLY TO PRAIRIE DU CHIEN MUNICIPAL (KPDC) BUT THAT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO IFR CONDITIONS ALONG THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT AND A FIRST-TIME PASSENGER. THE PIC THEN DECIDED TO GO TO KJVL FOR BREAKFAST INSTEAD. THE PIC PLANNED THE FLIGHT INCLUDING W&B CALCULATIONS FOR HIMSELF AND HIS PASSENGERS AS WELL AS PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS. ALL WERE WITHIN LIMITS.  PIC COMPLETED A PREFLIGHT, LOADED HIS PASSENGERS, AND DID A RUN UP WITH NO ANOMALIES FOUND.

PIC REQUESTED AND RECEIVED ATC TAXI CLEARANCE TO TAXI TO RUNWAY 33 FOR DEPARTURE AND TO EXPECT INTERSECTION DEPARTURE AT ECHO. PIC ACCEPTED THE INTERSECTION DEPARTURE BASED ON PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES AND HIS PERFORMANCE CALCULATIONS. WITH THE STRONG GUSTING WINDS, THE PIC CONFIGURED THE AIRCRAFT FOR A SHORT FIELD WITH 25 DEGREES OF FLAP AND ADDED 5 KNOTS (FOR GUST FACTOR) TO THE SHORT FIELD ROTATION SPEED OF 60 KNOTS.

WHEN CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF BY ATC, THE PIC HAD PROBLEMS BUILDING AND MAINTAINING AIRSPEED, ALTHOUGH THE PLANE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. APPROACHING INTERSECTION CHARLIE WITH FLUCTUATING AIRSPEED PIC ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.  PIC APPLIED MAXIMUM BREAKING. THE LEFT WHEEL LOCKED AND THE PLANE YAWED TO THE LEFT.  THE PLANE HEADED FOR THE RUNWAY 15 REIL LIGHT BOX.  THE PLANE STRUCK THE REIL BOX CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PIC SHUTDOWN THE AIRCRAFT AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH HIS PASSENGERS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTS BY THE PIC OR PASSENGERS

## 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 CEN26LA186](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA186), May 13, 2026: Piper PA-28R-201 (N31401), West Chicago, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to attempt an intersection takeoff and delay to abort the takeoff which resulted in a subsequent runway excursion.

## Other reports on N31401 (1)

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

- [Incident 20140225001409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140225001409I), Feb 25, 2014: Piper PA-28R-201 (N31401), Sugar Grove, IL, Minor damage. Pilot took off and retracted the landing gear. The engine began to lose power. Pilot lowered the landing gear and landed. During the landing, the nose gear…

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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