# NTSB CEN09LA488: Piontkowski Challenger, N4526G, Kankakee, IL, August 3, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2009, 19:49 local (Aug 3, 2009, 00:49 UTC) - Place: Kankakee, IL - Coordinates: 41.071388, -87.846107 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0714&lon=-87.8461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74434 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA488 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74434/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74434 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA488 ## 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 alcohol consumption. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056251D), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056251D), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=056251D), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02020000): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02020000/cases.md?model=056251D), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02020000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056251D), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=056251D), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The aircraft was observed flying low along a river about 30 to 40 feet above the water, when it impacted a telephone line that went across the river. First responders reported that the pilot had the smell of alcohol on his breath. The pilot had his blood drawn more than 3½ hours after the accident, and the laboratory results indicated 0.127 g/dL of ethanol. Examination and photographs of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. FAA regulation 91.17 Alcohol or drugs, in part, stated, "(a)No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft - (1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage; (2) While under the influence of alcohol; … or (4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen." ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2009, about 1949 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Piontkowski Challenger, N4526G, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when the airplane struck a telephone line and then subsequently impacted the Kankakee River near Kankakee, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot on board the airplane sustained serious injuries. The flight originated at the Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK), near Kankakee, Illinois. According to witness statements in a Kankakee County Sheriff’s Police report, the aircraft was observed flying low along the Kankakee River. The IKK airport manager was a witness in a boat on the river. He recognized that the airplane was based at IKK. He saw that the airplane flew about 30 to 40 feet above the water. The airplane was further observed impacting a telephone line that went across the river and then impacting the Kankakee River. First responders reported that the pilot had the smell of alcohol on his breath. The pilot had his blood drawn more than 3½ hours after the accident on August 2, 2009, about 2320 and taken into evidence by the Kankakee County Sheriff. The laboratory results reference the blood draw indicated 0.127 g/dL of ethanol. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors examined and took photographs of the wreckage. Their examination and review of their photographs did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. FAA regulation 91.17 Alcohol or drugs, in part, stated: (a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft - (1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage; (2) While under the influence of alcohol; … or (4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen. Alcohol concentration means grams of alcohol per deciliter of blood or grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath. FAA regulation 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes: General, in part, stated: Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes: ... (c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4526G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4526G-2015-05-05), registration cancelled 2015-05-05, S/N CH2-1206-LSS-0111, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIONTKOWSKI CHALLENGER - Registry model: [Piontkowski Jeffrey J CHALLENGER LSS](https://openairdocs.org/model/piontkowski-jeffrey-j-challenger-lss) (registry code 056251D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-1206-LSS-0111 - Airframe hours: 70.6 - Engines: ROTAX 503 DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Piontkowski Jeffery J - Registered owner: Piontkowski Jeffery J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 28, 2009 - Departed: IKK, Kankakee, IL - Destination: IKK, Kankakee, IL - Airport: IKK, Greater Kankakee Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review May 21, 2008; seat: front; flight hours: 194 total, 85 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: IKK, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090802048719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090802048719A), Aug 2, 2009: Piontkowski CHALLENGER, Kankakee, IL, Destroyed. 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… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74434. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 487 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Illinois State Police Lab Report (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Illinois%20State%20Police%20Lab%20Report-Master.PDF - Kankakee County Sheriff's Police Report Excerpts (item 3, .PDF, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327772&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Kankakee%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Police%20Report%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Airport Manager's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAR 91.17 (item 5, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAR%2091.17-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.