# NTSB CHI92FA095: Piper PA-28-160, N5309W, Burlington, IL, February 23, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: February 23, 1992, 14:08 local (20:08 UTC)
- Place: Burlington, IL
- Coordinates: 42.049213, -88.539443 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0492&lon=-88.5394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report July 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15283
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI92FA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15283/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI92FA095

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN CRUISE FLIGHT.  RELATED FACTORS ARE THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION, THE LOW CEILING AND REDUCED VISIBILITY (FOG).

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, cruise
  - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT ENCOUNTERED INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (LOW CEILINGS AND REDUCED VISIBILITIES IN FOG) WHILE RETURNING TO THE HOME BASE AIRPORT.  A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANE DESCEND NOSE FIRST INTO A FIELD LOCATED ABOUT 3 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.  HE DESCRIBED SEEING THE TOP OF THE WINGS AND FUSELAGE BRIEFLY BEFORE IMPACT, AND STATED THE AIRPLANE APPEARED TO BE ALMOST PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.  WEATHER AT DUPAGE COUNTY AIRPORT, 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, WAS REPORTED TO BE: SKY PARTIALLY OBSCURED, 300 OVERCAST, 1 MILE VISIBILITY, FOG, TEMPERATURE 39 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (F), DEW POINT 39 DEGREES F, WINDS OUT OF 060 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS.  LOCAL RESIDENTS REPORTED HEARING THE ENGINE NOISE OF A LOW FLYING AIRPLANE, AND RELATED THAT THE WEATHER HAD DETERIORATED RAPIDLY THAT AFTERNOON.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5309W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5309W-1993-05-04), registration cancelled 1993-05-04, S/N 28363 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-160
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-363
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Greiner, William J.
- Registered owner: Greiner, William J.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 1991
- Departed: C48, SANDWICH, IL
- Destination: LL53, PLATO CENTER, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 460 total, 418 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 60° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast
- Temperature: 39 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DPA, 15 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 19920223003289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920223003289A), Feb 23, 1992: Piper PA28160, Burlington, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Near home base flew into area of dense fog. Lost control. Impacted vertically in field. Failed note dewpoint spread

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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