# NTSB CHI96LA063: Piper PA-28RT-201, N8162S, Wheeling, IL, December 24, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 1995, 10:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Wheeling, IL - Coordinates: 41.95095, -88.389259 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9509&lon=-88.3893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 1, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA063 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of the landing flare. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was going to execute some takeoffs and landings to comply with the regulations pertaining to currency. During the first crosswind landing, at approximately 10 to 15 feet, the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot said he increased the elevator deflection, but the airplane's rate of descent did not decrease. He did not increase engine power because there was not enough time and the airplane landed hard. The right landing gear was twisted approximately 30 degrees outboard, and the right wing was bent up with skin wrinkling on the upper surface. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 1995 at 1020 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA-28RT-201, N8162S, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged during landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed earlier that day from the Palwaukee airport, at 1000 cst. During a telephone conversation with the pilot on December 29, 1995 he said that he was going to execute some takeoffs and landings to comply with the regulations pertaining to currency. The pilot said that during the first crosswind landing at approximately 10 to 15 feet the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot said he increased the elevator deflection, but the airplane's rate of descent did not decrease. The pilot said that he did not increase engine power, because there was not enough time. The airplane's right landing gear was twisted approximately 30 degrees outboard, and the right wing was bent up with skin wrinkling on the upper surface. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8162S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8162S-2018-05-31), registration cancelled 2018-05-31, S/N 28R-8018042, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28RT-201 (PA-28RT-20) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28RT-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28rt-201) (registry code 7102818) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-8018042 - Airframe hours: 2180 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-C1C6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald A. Karroll - Registered owner: Paragon Flying Club - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 1995, 50 hours before - Departed: PWK - Airport: PWK, Palwaukee, runway 16, 5,137 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,303 total, 37 in this make and model, 1,905 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 9 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PWK ## 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 19951224042699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951224042699A), Dec 24, 1995: Piper PA28RT201, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. Made hard landing. Blamed downdraft unable to timely flare for landing. Light crosswind. Bent wing and gear. (-23) pilot stated that gusting winds and… ## Other investigations on N8162S (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA15LA341](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA341), Sep 4, 2015: Piper PA 28RT-201 (N8162S), Russell Springs, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s inadequate fuel injection servo maintenance due to an out-of-date AD list, which resulted in the fuel injection servo plug backing out of the threaded plug hole on the… 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.