Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watseka, Illinois 60970
Sunday, June 22, 2008 12:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, the flight was cruising at 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl) when he initiated a descent in order to avoid some clouds. As the airplane descended through approximately 4,000 feet msl, the engine started to "sputter." The pilot switched fuel tanks, but he could not restore engine power. The pilot set up for a forced landing to a small road. The airplane touched down on the road, bounced, departed the left side of the road, and impacted an embankment. An examination of the airplane and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/22/2008
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1250
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Watseka
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60970
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404612N
Event Location Longitude 0874352W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1146 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID IKK
Elevation of weather observation facility 630
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.9
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24923
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jun 23 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 27 2009 10:29AM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Springfield FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6144J
NTSB Number CHI08LA171
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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-28R-200
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7635302
Certified Max Gross Weight 2650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Associated Air Activities
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lansing
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60438
Operator is an individual? No
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 USA
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 --
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 FRH
Departure City French Lick
Departure State IN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1110
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code IGQ
Destination City Lansing
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 29 2008 4:17PM
User who most recently changed record sort
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --