# NTSB CHI94LA273: Piper PA-28-140, N3634R, Romeoville, IL, August 9, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 9, 1994, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Romeoville, IL
- Coordinates: 41.580333, -88.040252 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5803&lon=-88.0403&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA273
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9632/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA273

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and improper emergency procedure. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel tank selector, and the rough, uneven terrain.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - fluid,fuel - starvation
  - fuel tank selector position - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - emergency procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A FIELD SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID THAT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, HE HAD INADVERTENTLY SELECTED A NEARLY EMPTY FUEL TANK, AND THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION. HE STATED THAT HE FAILED TO CHECK THE FUEL SELECTOR FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THUS DID NOT MOVE THE SELECTOR TO THE OTHER, NEARLY FULL GAS TANK. THE AIRPLANE SUSEQUENTLY LANDED IN A ROUGH CORNFIELD WITH A MATURE CROP.

## Factual narrative

On August 9, 1994, about 1720 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-140 airplane, N3634R, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent off airport landing in a corn field near Romeoville, Illinois.  The commercial pilot and sole passenger aboard reported no injuries.  The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated without flight plan in visual meteorological conditions.

The pilot reported the engine lost power while he was flying in the traffic pattern in preparation for landing.  He said the engine lost power because he had inadvertently selected a nearly empty fuel tank prior to takeoff, and that he had exhausted all the usable fuel in the selected tank. The pilot said he did not switch to the other, nearly full fuel tank, and thus was forced to land in a corn field short of runway 09.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3634R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3634R), registered now, S/N 28-7125140, built 1971 (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 O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7125140
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Revisky, Louis R.
- Registered owner: Steve Ratkovich
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1994, 1 hours before
- Departed: LOT, IL
- Airport: LOT, Lewis University, runway 9, 4,000 × 100 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 900 total, 300 in this make and model, 900 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DPA, 22 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 19940809020949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940809020949A), Aug 9, 1994: Piper PA28140, Romeoville, IL, Substantial damage. Lost power. Landed short of runway. Fuel selector on empty tank by mistake. Failed to switch to full tank.

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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