# NTSB CEN20CA405: Piper PA28, N43020, Huntley, IL, September 19, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 18, 2020, 21:27 local (Sep 19, 2020, 02:27 UTC)
- Place: Huntley, IL
- Coordinates: 42.221474, -88.416444 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2215&lon=-88.4164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Greater Chicago FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102006
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA405
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102006/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102006
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA405

## Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land at night without runway lighting, which resulted in a collision with an object.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)
- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-151, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7102805), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was attempting to land, at night, on an unlit grass airstrip. The pilot landed to the right of the runway by about 10 ft. During the rollout the right wing hit a small tree and separated partially from the fuselage at the wing root, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43020](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43020), registered now, S/N 28-7415409, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA28 (151)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-151](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-151) (registry code 7102805) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7415409
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 12521
- Engines: Lycoming Engines O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, September 4, 2020
- Departed: 3CK, Lake in the Hills, IL
- Destination: 6IL2, Huntley, IL
- Airport: 6IL2, Phyllis Field, runway 07, 3,300 × 70 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 435 total, 303 in this make and model, 379 as pilot in command, 151 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 30° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 47 °F, dew point 38 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: KDPA, 20 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 20200918017589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200918017589A), Sep 18, 2020: Piper PA-28-151, Huntley, IL, Substantial damage. 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…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102006. 1.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11423061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot email statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11422667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Email%20Statement%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photographs (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11423401&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.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.

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