- Date
- March 10, 1990, 12:28 local (18:28 UTC)
- Place
- Bartonville, IL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N410HCPiper PA-60-601P
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 16, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900310003609A
- Case key
- 14525
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot allowed the aircraft to exceed its design stress limits after encountering adverse weather. Factors related to the accident were: the pilot's improper evaluation of the weather and the adverse weather condtions.
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.
Analysis
Before takeoff, the plt rcvd a wx briefing & was adzd of tstms & hvy rain along the route. The briefing included a warning of a severe tstm watch with hail, wind gusts to 65 KTS & a SIGMET (31C). The plt filed an IFR flt plan & took off at 1148 CST. While en route at 15,000 MSL, he reqd & rcvd clnc to divert 10 deg left to avoid 'some clouds.' Soon thereafter, the ATC ctlr noticed the acft was about 500' hi & reminded the plt to maint 15,000'. The plt acknowledged, then there was no further communication with the acft. Subsequently, an in-flt breakup of the acft occurred & the plane crashed. The left outboard wing panel sepd fm positive overload failure & was found about 1 mi fm the main wreckage. No preimpact fatigue was fnd. A witness, who saw the acft dscndg out of the clouds, saw a funnel cloud in the area before the acdnt.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N410HC
- Reported as
- Piper PA-60-601P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 61P-0367-116
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-S1A5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bhp, Inc.
- Departed
- CPS · Cahokia, IL
- Destination
- 12C · Rochelle, IL
- Flight plan
- IFR
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
- 60
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 3,312 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 340° at 18 knots
- Lowest ceiling
- 400 ft
- Temperature
- -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at
- PIA, 2 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.