Shafer Metro East Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

St. Jacob, Illinois 62281
Sunday, July 31, 1988 10:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES LOCATED OFF OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES, HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO FLY UNDER THEM. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A SECOND (LOWER) SET OF WIRES AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 92 DEGREES F AT THE TIME OF THE ACC.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1988
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ST. JACOB
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62281
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SHAFER METRO EAST AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3K6
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 480
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1055 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID BLV
Elevation of weather observation facility 453
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 26
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 2
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1521
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1100
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37646
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 11:55AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9291T
NTSB Number CHI88LA180
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 PA-38-112
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-38-112
Aircraft Serial Number 38-78A0329
Certified Max Gross Weight 1670
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 16
Airframe Hours 3963
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SHAFER, EDWARD B
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT. 1, BOX 139
Aircraft Owner City ST. JACOB
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 62281
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SHAFER, EDWARD B.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RT. 1, BOX 139
Operator City ST. JACOB
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 62281
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 950
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 Descent
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 13
Runway Length 2600
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --