# NTSB CHI94LA230: Piper PA-28-140, N7079R, Kankakee, IL, July 16, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 1994, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Kankakee, IL - Coordinates: 41.109638, -87.860221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1096&lon=-87.8602&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9594 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9594/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA230 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING PREPARATION BY THE IMPROPER LOADING OF THE AIRPLANE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft weight and balance - exceeded, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - climb - not obtained, pilot in command - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THE AIRPLANE FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT WAS LOADED TO GROSS WEIGHT WITH FUEL AND A TOTAL OF FOUR PERSONS ABOARD. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE DID NOT CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TOPS OF CORN LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, IMPACTED THE GROUND, AND CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES WERE REPORTED BY THE INSTRUCTOR. A WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATION DONE BY THE FAA INSPECTOR REVEALED THE WEIGHT OF THE AIRPLANE EXCEEDED THE MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT LIMITATION. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND TO HAVE BEEN LOADED OUTSIDE OF THE CENTER OF GRAVITY RANGE LISTED IN THE AIRPLANE'S FLIGHT MANUAL. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 1994, at 1715 central daylight time, a Piper 28-140, N7079R, was substantially damaged when it came to rest in a corn field adjacent to Greater Kankakee Airport, Kankakee, Illinois. The instructional flight had just taken off from runway 27 at Greater Kankakee Airport, but it was unable to climb. The flight instructor and student pilot received minor injuries. The two passengers received no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan. The instructor reported the airplane was loaded to gross weight with fuel and a total of four persons aboard. While attempting to takeoff from runway 27 (2644' x 300'), the instructor states, "the aircraft lifted off at approximately two thirds of the runway, but it would not climb out of ground effect." The airplane struck the tops of corn located at the end of the runway, impacted the ground, and came to rest in an inverted position. No preimpact mechanical abnormalities were reported by the instructor. A weight and balance calculation done by FAA Inspector Susan Gardner revealed the weight of the airplane exceeded the maximum gross weight limitation. The airplane was found to have been loaded outside of the center of gravity range listed in the airplane's flight manual. The FAA Inspector's statement and calculations are appended. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7079R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7079R), registered now, S/N 28-21781, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-21781 - Airframe hours: 4116 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Koerner Aviation, Inc. - Registered owner: Koerner Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 4, 1994, 69 hours before - Airport: 3KK, Kankakee Koerners, runway 27, 2,600 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 8,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 7,500 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °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 19940716018679A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940716018679A), Jul 16, 1994: Piper PA28140, Kankakee, IL, Substantial damage. Unable leave ground effect on takeoff. Struck tall corn end of runway. Full gross wt and aft of gg limits. 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.