# NTSB CHI90LA069: Piper PA-28-161, N4372S, West Chicago, IL, December 10, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 10, 1989, 15:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.879184, -88.219329 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8792&lon=-88.2193&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 25, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14622
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90LA069
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14622/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90LA069

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:  THE CROSSWIND, THE STUDENT PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL INEXPERIENCE, AND THE RUNWAY LIGHTS.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing
  - touch-and-go - initiated
  - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, landing
  - object - runway light (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER A STOP-&-GO LANDING ON RWY 10, THE STUDENT PLT ENTERED TRAFFIC FOR A TOUCH-&-GO LANDING ON RWY 15. HE RPRTD THAT AFTER A NORMAL TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT DECELERATED THRU 30 KTS, THEN BEGAN TO VEER OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE STUDENT SAID HE CORRECTED WITH RIGHT RUDDER, BUT THE ACFT CONTINUED OFF THE LEFT SIDE & STRUCK RWY LIGHTS. IT WAS STOPPED ABOUT 50 FT FROM THE EDGE OF THE RWY. THE RWY HAD A DIRECT CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 6 KTS. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND OF A PRE-ACDNT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4372S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4372S), registered now, S/N 28-8416115, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-8416115
- Airframe hours: 3027
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Travel Express, Inc.
- Registered owner: Mark Kennedy
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 9, 1989, 400 hours before
- Departed: DPA
- Destination: DPA
- Airport: DPA, Dupage County, runway 15, 3,401 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; student; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 59 total, 59 in this make and model, 15 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 39 °F

## 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 19891210057349A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19891210057349A), Dec 10, 1989: Piper PA28161, Chicago/West Ch, IL, Substantial damage. Student lost control on landing roll,veered off runway and struck runway light.

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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