Southern Illinois Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Carbondale, Illinois 62903
Thursday, May 31, 1990 11:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FIRST TOUCH AND GO WAS UNEVENTFUL, BUT WHEN THE NOSE GEAR TOUCHED DOWN ON THE SECOND LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED 'VIOLENTLY' TO THE LEFT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THEN SWERVED 'RATHER SUDDENLY' BACK TO THE RIGHT AND ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT-RATED PASSENGER STATED THAT THE PILOT APPLIED PULL RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT BRAKE, AND USED DIFFERENTIAL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REGAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED SKID MARKS ON THE RUNWAY WHICH WERE CONSISTENT WITH A TOUCH DOWN WITH THE LEFT BRAKE LOCKED. EXAMINATION ALSO REVEALED THAT THE NOSE GEAR STEERING ARM FAILED IN AN OVERLOAD FAILURE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING ROLL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/31/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CARBONDALE
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62903
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MDH
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 411
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1123 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MDH
Elevation of weather observation facility 411
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 8000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1010
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 1 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1300
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42231
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32AC
NTSB Number CHI90LA144
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-7405366
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Apr 6 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 62
Airframe Hours 3579
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WENESH, LEONARD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 270 AIRPORT ROAD
Aircraft Owner City ST PAUL
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55107
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name CORPORATE AIRCRAFT LEASING,INC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 18-4054 LAKEVIEW POINT
Operator City WYOMING
Operator State MN
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 55092
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1130
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 6
Runway Length 4093
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --