# NTSB CHI88FA046: Piper PA-23-250, N40265, Carbondale, IL, January 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1988, 17:39 local (23:39 UTC)
- Place: Carbondale, IL
- Coordinates: 37.719696, -89.209747 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7197&lon=-89.2097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 3 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 15, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13929
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88FA046
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13929/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88FA046

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - faf/outer marker to threshold (ifr)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - obscuration (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - ifr procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - missed approach - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40265-1989-02-21), registration cancelled 1989-02-21, S/N 277305078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-23-250
- Registry model: [Piper PA-23-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-23-250) (registry code 7102308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 277305078
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 21; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880118000589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880118000589A), Jan 18, 1988: Piper PA23250, Carbondale-Murp, IL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Descended into trees on night ILS approach in near zero IMC. Descended below glide slope near outer marker.

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.