Frankfort Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Frankfort, Illinois 60423
Monday, May 29, 1989 18:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND, THE WIND SHIFTED TO A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND AND STARTED TO GUST. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, TOWARDS SOME PARKED AIRPLANES AND HANGARS, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB OUT AND CLEAR THE HANGARS, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A HANGAR, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED INTO THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN CROSS/TAILWIND CONDITIONS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/29/1989
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1815
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FRANKFORT
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60423
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FRANKFORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C18
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 775
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1850 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 358
Weather Observation Facility ID ORD
Elevation of weather observation facility 667
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 746
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 29 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2145
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40250
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:40PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4980J
NTSB Number CHI89LA096
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 PA28R-180
Aircraft Series Identifier PA28R-180
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-30733
Certified Max Gross Weight 2500
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 Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Feb 8 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 55
Airframe Hours 4150
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PICKETT, RONALD E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8130 S WOLF ROAD
Aircraft Owner City LAGRANGE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60525
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PICKETT, RONALD E.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8130 S. WOLF ROAD
Operator City LAGRANGE
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60525
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 CGI
Departure City CAPE GIRARDEAU
Departure State MO
Departure Country
Departure Time 1720
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code C18
Destination City FRANKFORT
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Go-around (VFR)
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 9
Runway Length 3176
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --