# NTSB CHI97LA130: Piper PA-28-181, N8309L, Grayslake, IL, May 13, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 1997, 21:00 local (May 13, 1997, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Grayslake, IL - Coordinates: 42.339565, -88.029357 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3396&lon=-88.0294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10564 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI97LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10564/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA130 ## Probable cause the pilot's misjudgment of the aircraft's speed and runway distance available. Factors were an off-field ditch and a tailwind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, landing - roll - distance/speed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that on his fourth landing, during a series of night touch and go's, he 'flared the plane and it 'floated' for a long time.' With the end of the runway approaching the airplane departed the runway onto a taxiway. The pilot wrote 'I tried to turn into the taxiway at the runway's end, but was going too fast to make the turn.' The aircraft exited the taxiway, coming to rest in a 'nose down' attitude in a small canal off the end of the runway and taxiway. After exiting the airplane the pilot reported 'I noticed a strong wind directly from the east and observed the wind sock standing out with a bend of approximately 45 degrees.' ## Factual narrative On May 12, 1997, at 2100 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8309L, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during an overrun on landing. The airplane was landing on runway 27 (3,270' x 40' dry asphalt) at Campbell Airport, near Grayslake, Illinois. The pilot reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file for the local flight, that departed at 2010. In a written statement by the pilot, he stated that on his fourth landing, during a series of night touch and go's, he "flared the plane and it 'floated' for a long time." With the end of the runway approaching the airplane departed the runway onto a taxiway. The pilot wrote, "I tried to turn into the taxiway at the runway's end, but was going too fast to make the turn." The aircraft exited the taxiway, coming to rest in a "nose down" attitude in a small canal off the end of the runway and taxiway. After exiting the airplane the pilot reported, "I noticed a strong wind directly from the east and observed the wind sock standing out with a bend of approximately 45 degrees." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8309L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8309L-2017-10-02), registration cancelled 2017-10-02, S/N 28-8190112, built 1980 (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) - 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: 28-8190112 - Airframe hours: 4300 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cardinal Aircraft Service - Registered owner: James W. Zubert - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 1997, 44 hours before - Departed: C81 - Airport: C81, Cambell, runway 27, 3,270 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 183 total, 8 in this make and model, 123 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 10 °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 19970512012919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970512012919A), May 12, 1997: Piper PA28181, Grayslake, IL, Substantial damage. (4.)The pilot stated that on his fourth landing, during a series of night touch and go's, he 'flared the plane and it 'floated' for a long time.' With the end… ## Other investigations on N8309L (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 ERA14FA162](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14FA162), Mar 22, 2014: Piper PA-28-181 (N8309L), Safety Harbor, FL, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to cocaine use. 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.