# NTSB CHI90FA096: Piper PA-60-601P, N410HC, Bartonville, IL, March 10, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: March 10, 1990, 12:28 local (18:28 UTC)
- Place: Bartonville, IL
- Coordinates: 40.629783, -89.690704 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6298&lon=-89.6907&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed, report June 16, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14525
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90FA096
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14525/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA096

## 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

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise - normal
  - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - thunderstorm (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - updraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, unknown
  - wing - overload
  - design stress limits of aircraft - exceeded, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N410HC-1992-10-23), registration cancelled 1992-10-23, S/N 61P0367116 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-601P
- Registry model: [Smith AEROSTAR 601P](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-aerostar-601p) (registry code 8360608) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 61P-0367-116
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19900310003609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900310003609A), Mar 10, 1990: Piper PA60601P, Peoria, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Flew into a thunderstorm. Lost portion of wing from overload and spun in. Sigmets en route of thunderstorms ignored

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.