# NTSB CHI84LA011: Piper PA-30, N7165Y, Aurora, IL, October 7, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 6, 1983, 19:52 local (Oct 7, 1983, 00:52 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, IL
- Location: 41.7719° N, 88.4757° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at AURORA MUNI (ARR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7719&lon=-88.4757&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12469
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI84LA011
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12469/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA011

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - notams - not obtained, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway lighting - unavailable (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear - overload

## Analysis

APPROACHING THE DESTINATION ARPT THE PLT WAS ADVISED BY AURORA LOCAL CONTROL THAT THE ONLY AVAILABLE LANDING AREA WAS ANUNLIGHTED TAXIWAY, DESIGNATED TEMPORARY RWY 9/27, USED AS A DAY VFR RWY. USE OF THE TEMPORARY RWY AFTER SUNSET WAS NOT AUTHORIZED, & THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT ALL ARPT LIGHTING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ROTATING BEACON, WILL BE OFF. THE PLT WAS ALSO ADVISED THAT LANDING ON THE TEMPORARY RWY WOULD BE AT THE PLT'S OWN RISK. THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN 490 FT SHORT, & NORTH OF THE TAXIWAY, CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 325 FT PARALLELING THE TAXIWAY, ACROSS THE N/S TAXIWAY & STRUCK FOUR TAXI LIGHTS, VEERED LEFT & CROSSED THE N/S RWY, CROSSED THE SE CORNER OF THE TEMPORARY RWY, & OVER A GULLEY AT WHICH POINT THE LEFT MAIN GEAR SEPARATED. THE TOWER HAD ISSUED A NOTAM DATED 9/2/83, EFFECTIVE 9/6/83, ADVISING OF THE CONSTRUCTION & LANDING RESTRICTIONS. TO THE BEST OF THE PLT'S RECOLLECTION HE DID NOT ASK FSS FOR A NOTAM CHECK DURING HIS PREFLIGHT BRIEFING, NOR DID THE FSS ADVISE THE PLT OF THE NOTAM.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N7165Y (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30-186
- Airframe hours: 3900
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Dale E. Espich
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MOLINE, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: ARR, Auroro, runway 27, 2,650 × 40 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,675 total, 675 in this make and model, 3,560 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ARR

## 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 19831007053139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19831007053139A), Oct 7, 1983: Piper PA30, Aurora, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot attempted night landing on unlighted temporary daytime only runway. A aircraft hit several obstacles.

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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