# NTSB CEN23LA193: Piper PA32RT, N442TM, DeKalb, IL, May 19, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 19, 2023, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: DeKalb, IL - Coordinates: 41.929042, -88.704057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9290&lon=-88.7041&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 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): 192212 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192212/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192212 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA193 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during a go-around in gusting winds. Contributing was the presence of windshear. ## 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Simulated/training event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 173 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/600/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Piper PA-32RT-300T, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=7103216), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the pilot was receiving landing training in his airplane. As the airplane touched down on the runway, a gust of wind caused it to balloon. The flight instructor ordered the pilot to go around, and the airplane accelerated to 85 kts in a slight climb. About 25 feet above the ground the airplane abruptly and rapidly pitched over to about 20° nose low. The flight instructor immediately came on the control yoke and pulled but received no response to his pull. The airplane impacted the runway about 10o nose low and slid off the left side into the grass where it came to a stop. The pilot, flight instructor, and a passenger egressed the airplane without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the airplane was landing on runway 27 with wind 290o at 14 kts gusting to 19 kts. The pilot reported that the nose dropped dramatically and that neither he nor the flight instructor had time to react with additional back pressure on the control yoke. The pilot said during the pitch over that his hands never left the control yoke. The flight instructor further reported that light clear air turbulence was present at the time and “windshear caused our demise.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N442TM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N442TM-2026-05-23), registration cancelled 2026-05-23, S/N 32R-7887225, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA32RT (300T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300t) (registry code 7103216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-S1AD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-s1ad) (registry code 41988, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32R-7887225 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3180.48 - Engines: Lycoming Engines TIO-540-S1AD 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rice Heritage Equipment, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2023 - Airport: DKB, De Kalb Taylor Muni, runway 27, 4,201 × 75 ft, concrete - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 76; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 22, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 24,250 total, 30 in this make and model, 16,755 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review March 1, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 231 total, 1 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 16 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Turbulence: Light - Observed at: KDKB - METAR: KDKB 192135Z AUTO 29016G20KT 10SM CLR 19/09 A3001 RMK AO2 T01900089 ## 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 20230519007089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230519007089A), May 19, 2023: Piper PA-32RT-300T, Dekalb, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot in command was providing instruction in [privacy data omitted]. The pilot flying had bought this aircraft that morning and was being introduced to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192212. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15665956&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA193%20NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15665700&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Various statements (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15665377&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Various%20Statements%20Redacted-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. --- 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.