CHI88FA046

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-23-250 · Carbondale, IL · January 18, 1988

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
January 18, 1988, 17:39 local (23:39 UTC)
Place
Carbondale, IL
Injuries
3 fatal
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N40265Piper PA-23-250
Weather
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Status
Completed · report May 15, 1989
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19880118000589A
Case key
13929

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

In flight collision with terrain/waterApproach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
Light condition - dark nightFactor
Weather condition - obscurationFactor
Weather condition - fogFactor
Object - tree(s)Factor
Ifr procedure - not followedPilot in commandCause
Proper descent rate - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Missed approach - not performedPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

Shortly after reporting the outer marker while executing an ILS runway 18 approach in actual instrument meteorological conditions, the aircraft deviated left of the localizer centerline. At a position approximately 1/2 mile outside the middle marker and about 1/4 mile left of the localizer centerline, the aircraft descended into a wooded area on an easterly heading. The aircraft impacted the trees and then the terrain in a slightly left bank and slightly nose low attitude. Engine examination and teardown revealed no evidence of pre-impact malfunction. A flight check of the ILS runway 18 was performed the next day and indicated the system was functioning normally. Inspection of the aircraft instruments did not disclose any malfunctions. The pilot was in contact with ATC and did not report any problems before the impact occurred. All pilot and aircraft records were destroyed by post-impact fire. Pilot's total instrument flying experience was not determined; obtained instrument rating 1/3/87.

Aircraft

Registration
N40265
Reported as
Piper PA-23-250
Category
Airplane
Serial number
277305078
Engine
Lycoming IO-540-C4B5, 250 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Mcclure Construction
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 14, 1987
Departed
IKK · Kankakee, IL
Destination
MDH · Carbondale, IL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
MDH · Southern Illinois, runway 18, 5,801 × 100 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
21
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Toxicology
Performed
Flight hours
355 total

Weather

Conditions
Instrument (IMC) · Night/dark
Wind
110° at 13 knots
Lowest ceiling
300 ft
Temperature
39 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MDH, 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.