Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Yorkville, Illinois 60560
Saturday, July 17, 1999 12:45 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The airplane was flying a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) cross-country when it encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and precipitation. Witnesses stated that the airplane was flying northbound at an altitude described as being 50-60 feet above ground level (agl) before starting a turn, just prior to the in-flight collision with the terrain. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service weather-radar plots revealed that an area of precipitation had moved through the accident location, before and after the reported time of the accident. Aircraft radar track data for period before and after the reported accident time was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This aircraft radar track data was plotted on the NOAA weather-radar plots and indicated that the accident aircraft had encountered an area of convective activity prior to and about the reported accident time. A weather observation station, located 10.9 nautical miles from the accident site on a 215-degree magnetic heading, reported the weather as visibility 1 3/4 statute miles and cloud conditions of 900 scattered, 1,800 broken, and 2,500 overcast. The pilot had received three weather briefings prior to his departure. The FAA Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) advised the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended during two briefings and he was informed of deteriorating weather conditions along the proposed route of flight during his final briefing. The pilot received two weather briefings, while en route, from two FAA AFSS, and was advised of the deteriorating weather conditions, along the proposed route of flight, during each briefing.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
the pilot continuing into known adverse weather conditions, attempting low altitude flight, and not maintaining terrain clearance. Factors to the accident were the thunderstorm and the improper weather evaluation by the pilot following pre-departure and in-flight weather briefings.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 7/17/1999 |
| Event Day of the Week | Saturday |
| Time of Event | 1245 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | YORKVILLE |
| Event State | ILLINOIS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 60560 |
| Event Date Year | 1999 |
| Event Date Month | 7 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | -- |
| Event Location Longitude | -- |
| Event Location Airport | |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Unknown |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Full |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1255 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 215 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | C09 |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 584 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 11 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 1800 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | 900 |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | Scattered |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | 0 |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | 0 |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 1.75 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 25 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 23 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 270 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 10 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Unknown |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 15 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 30 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | 1759 |
| Intensity of Precipitation | Heavy |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | Fatal |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | 0 |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | 0 |
| Injury Total Fatal | 2 |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 2 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 1843 |
| NTSB Notification Source | -- |
| NTSB Notification Date | Jul 17 1999 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 2128 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | IMAGE |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 9 2001 8:54AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Basic weather conditions | Instrument Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N5054F |
| NTSB Number | CHI99FA238 |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | N |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | Part 91: General Aviation |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- |
| Damage | Destroyed |
| Aircraft Fire | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | None |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | Piper |
| Aircraft Model | PA-28-181 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | PA-28-181 |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 28-7790083 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 2450 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 4 |
| Number of Engines | 1 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Annual |
| Date of Last Inspection | Nov 12 1998 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 123 |
| Airframe Hours | 1733 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | NAPERVILLE FLYING CLUB, INC. |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 1163 CHESHIRE AVE |
| Aircraft Owner City | NAPERVILLE |
| Aircraft Owner State | IL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 60540 |
| Operator is an individual? | -- |
| Operator Name | |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | |
| Operator City | |
| Operator State | |
| Operator Country | |
| Operator Zip code | |
| Operator Code | |
| Owner has at least one certificate | None |
| Other Operator of large aircraft? | No |
| Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation | Unknown |
| Operator Certificate Number | -- |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | -- |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | -- |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | -- |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | ISZ |
| Departure City | CINCINNATI |
| Departure State | OH |
| Departure Country | |
| Departure Time | 1140 |
| Departure Time Zone | EDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | LL10 |
| Destination City | NAPERVILLE |
| Destination State | IL |
| Destination Country | |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Cruise |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 9 2001 8:54AM |
| User who most recently changed record | dbo |
| Since inspection or accident | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | 0 |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |