# NTSB CHI02LA126: Piper PA 28-181, N276U, Sandwich, IL, May 10, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2002, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Sandwich, IL - Coordinates: 41.638332, -88.644447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6383&lon=-88.6444&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Sandwich Police Department, Federal Aviation Adminstration DPA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54675 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA126 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54675/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54675 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA126 ## Probable cause The driver of the automobile improperly drove his automobile on the active runway and did not maintain visual lookout for landing aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - visual lookout - inadequate, driver of vehicle (cause) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage when the aircraft and an automobile collided on the runway. According to the pilot, after he landed he noticed an automobile about one-third of the way down the runway that was moving from left to right across the active runway. The pilot reported that the car continued to move steadily and that he applied full brakes and steered to the right to avoid hitting the car. The Sandwich Police Department estimated that the airplane skidded for 230 feet before the vehicle struck the aircraft about 800 feet down the runway. The driver of the automobile reported that he could not see the landing aircraft because of the sun and that he had recently had cataract surgery. ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2002, at 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA 28-181, N276U, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll when the aircraft and an automobile collided on runway 26 (2,988 feet by 50 feet, dry/asphalt) at Woodlake Landing Airport (IS65), Sandwich, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. No ground injuries were reported either. The flight had departed Lake in the Hills (3CK), Lake in the Hills, Illinois at 0830 central daylight time. According to the pilot's written statement, upon reaching Woodlake Landing Airport he entered the left pattern for runway 26. The pilot reported he was approximately three to four minutes behind bonanza traffic, also landing on runway 26. The pilot stated that the approach and landing were uneventful until he noticed an automobile about one-third of the way down the runway moving from left to right. According to the pilot, the automobile was moving slowly, but steadily, and began to cross the active runway. The pilot reported, "I applied full braking and steered right to try to avoid hitting the car - even then the car failed to stop or slow down". The pilot reported that at approximately 800 feet down the runway the airplane and the car collided. The Sandwich Police Department reported that the automobile attempted to drive across the runway when the aircraft was landing. The aircraft locked the brakes upon landing to keep from hitting the car and skidded approximately 230 feet before striking the vehicle. The driver of the automobile reported that he did not see the aircraft because of the sun and had recently had cataract surgery. The driver was aware he was not to drive across the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N276U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N276U), registered now, S/N 28-7690384, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA 28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7690384 - Airframe hours: 1740 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dennis Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 31, 2001, 30 hours before - Departed: 3CK, Lake in Hills, IL - Destination: IS65, Sandwich, IL - Airport: IS65, Woodlake Airport, runway 26, 2,900 × 70 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 20, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,180 total, 280 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KARR ## 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 20020510010179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020510010179A), May 10, 2002: Piper PA28181, Sandwich, IL, No damage. (.19) On may 10, 2002, at 0900 central daylight time, a Piper pa 28-181, N276U, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during the Landing… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54675. 2.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436612&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Illinois Traffic Crash Report (item 3, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436613&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Illinois%20Traffic%20Crash%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Various Views of Aircraft Hit By Car - Provided By Passenger (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40197952&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Various%20Views%20of%20Aircraft%20Hit%20By%20Car%20-%20Provided%20By%20Passenger-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.