# NTSB CHI95LA021: Piper PA-28-181, N90875, Bloomington, IL, October 23, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 23, 1994, 13:12 local (18:12 UTC) - Place: Bloomington, IL - Coordinates: 40.484901, -88.986866 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4849&lon=-88.9869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 29, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9784 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9784/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA021 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during the landing which resulted in a stall. A factor related to the accident was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Hard landing, emergency landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND BEGAN A DESCENT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ADD POWER TO ARREST THE DESCENT RATE, THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET DURING THE EMERGENCY LANDING APPROACH TO A PLOWED FIELD. POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION FAILED TO REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF POWER. ## Factual narrative On October 23, 1994, at 1312 central daylight time, a Piper PA- 28-181, N90875, operated by Clark Aviation and flown by a private pilot, collided with rough terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The airplane was on an extended final approach for landing at the Bloomington-Normal Airport when the accident occurred. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot received minor injuries. Both passengers on board were seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight was not operating under a flight plan. The personal flight originated from Danville, Illinois, at 1205 cdt. The pilot departed Bloomington, flew to Danville, and was returning to Bloomington when the accident occurred. The airplane was topped off with fuel prior to departing for Danville and had flown for approximately 2 hours prior to the accident. When 15 miles east of the Bloomington Airport, the pilot was instructed to fly a straight-in approach for runway 29. He reported he reduced the power to 1,500 rpm to initiate a descent 5 miles from the airport. He stated he applied carburetor heat, verified the mixture was rich and that the fuel pump was on. When reaching an altitude of 1,800 feet, the pilot reported, he advanced the throttle in an attempt to stop the descent, however, the engine did not respond accordingly. The pilot attempted to regain engine power to no avail. The pilot reported he set the airplane up for an off-airport forced landing into a plowed field. He reported that the airplane "lost lift approximately 20 feet above the ground." A post accident inspection of the airplane was conducted by an Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Inspector. This inspector reported, "There was nothing apparent found that would have caused a loss of engine power." (See Inspector's Statement) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90875](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N90875-1996-03-12), registration cancelled 1996-03-12, S/N 288690015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8690015 - Airframe hours: 2738 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Clark Aviation - Registered owner: S And R Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 14, 1994, 15 hours before - Departed: DNV, DANVILLE, IL - Destination: BMI - Airport: BMI, Bloomington-Normal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 183 total, 175 in this make and model, 135 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BMI, 1 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 19941023035329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941023035329A), Oct 23, 1994: Piper PA28181, Bloomington-Nor, IL, Substantial damage. Lost power on approach. Stall landed into plowed field. No engine problems found. Possible fuel mismanagment. 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.