# NTSB CHI98LA029: Piper PA-24-250, N7890P, Robinson, IL, November 2, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 1997, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Robinson, IL - Coordinates: 39.000652, -87.739891 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0007&lon=-87.7399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10775/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA029 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper decision to continue flight into adverse weather conditions The low ceiling and the heavy rain were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor) - weather condition - rain (contributing factor) - flight into adverse weather - continued, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Analysis A witness observed the airplane in flight just before the accident occurred. He said that he saw the airplane fly south to north at a very low altitude before it disappeared. A minute later, the witness saw the airplane heading westbound. He watched the airplane until it disappeared behind some trees. The witness said that the weather was very rainy and windy, with very bad visibility. There were no witnesses to the airplane accident. The pilot was not instrument rated, and had logged no flight time in actual instrument weather conditions. The weather observation reported by the Flight Service Station at Terre Haute, Indiana (38 miles north-northeast of the accident site), on 11/2/97, at 1745 est (1645 cst), was few clouds at 2,400 feet above ground level (agl), a broken ceiling at 3,300 feet agl, an overcast ceiling at 5,000 feet agl, and rain showers. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 1997, at 1730 central standard time (cst), a Piper PA-24-250, N7890P, operated by a private pilot, was destroyed when while maneuvering close to the ground, the airplane's left wing struck a tree. The airplane subsequently rolled inverted and impacted the terrain, 10 miles north of Robinson, Illinois. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot was fatally injured. The cross-country flight originated at Roanoke, Virginia, at 1520 eastern standard time (est), and was en route to Hannibal, Missouri. At approximately 1720 cst, a witness heard the airplane approach at a very low altitude, traveling south to north. The witness observed the airplane continue to the north until it disappeared. Approximately a minute later, the witness saw the airplane again, heading west. The witness observed the airplane until it disappeared behind some trees. The witness said that he did not hear the airplane crash or observe any fire. The witness described the weather at the time he saw the airplane as rainy and windy with very bad visibility. There were no witnesses to the airplane accident. The pilot's wife reported the airplane overdue on November 3, 1997. The wreckage was discovered by an individual who was taking soil samples in the field, on November 4, 1997, at 1450 cst. The pilot was not instrument rated. The pilot's logbook indicated that as of October 31, 1997, he had logged a total flight time of 267.2 hours, all in single engine land airplanes. No flight time was logged in actual weather conditions. The weather observation reported by the Flight Service Station at Terre Haute, Indiana (38 miles north-northeast of the accident site), on November 2, 1997, at 1745 est (1645 cst), was few clouds at 2,400 feet above ground level (agl), a broken ceiling at 3,300 feet agl, an overcast ceiling at 5,000 feet agl, and rain showers. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane wreckage at the accident site, on November 5, 1997. The main wreckage rested inverted on the edge of a corn field, approximately 200 yards from a tree line which lined the opposite edge of the field. One of the trees had broken limbs and branches approximately 50 feet up from the base of the trunk. A ground scar was observed in the corn field approximately 50 yards from the tree line. A five- foot long section of the left wing, the left aileron and the wingtip was located just before the ground scar. It was crushed inward at the leading edge. Pieces of the windscreen, top of the fuselage, engine cowling and one propeller blade were found in and around the ground scar. The propeller blade had broken off at the base. It showed torsional bending. Approximately 45 feet from the ground scar was the top half of the vertical stabilizer and rudder. It was bent aft and broken. Proceeding across the field and tracking to the main wreckage, were pieces of the instrument panel, flight instruments, the left outboard one-half of the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, part of the engine cowling, the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and the inboard section of the left wing. Beginning 50 yards back from the main wreckage were scattered personal effects, the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator, and the tailcone. The main wreckage rested at the remains of a sheared tree trunk on the edge of the corn field. Debris from the tree was inter-mixed with the wreckage. The main wreckage consisted of the right wing, the fuselage, the engine and remaining propeller blade. The fuselage was broken open and bent aft. The propeller blade showed torsional bending and tip curling. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies were revealed from the examination of the engine, engine controls or other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7890P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7890P-2012-09-06), registration cancelled 2012-09-06, S/N 24-3119, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-3119 - Airframe hours: 3132 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1D5 250 lbs thrust reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary L. Mahsman - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 22, 1997, 33 hours before - Departed: ROA, ROANOKE, VA - Destination: HAE, HANNIBAL, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 267 total, 33 in this make and model, 227 as pilot in command, 64 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 16 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,300 ft broken - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: HUF, 38 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 19971102031719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971102031719A), Nov 2, 1997: Piper PA24250, Robinson, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Acft crashed und unk circ, pilot suffered fatal inj, acft was destroyed, Robinson, IL. (.4)a witness observed the airplane in flight just before the accident… 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.