Piper PA-28-180 N16375
21 January 1989 · Chicago, Illinois, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 21 January 1989 at about 15:50 local time, a Piper PA-28-180 registered N16375, operated by Michael J. Belica, was involved in an accident near Chicago, Illinois, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Nearest airport
- Meigs (CGX)
- Coordinates
- 41.8992, -87.6110
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180
- Registration
- N16375
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Michael J. Belica
- Operating rule
- Public Use
- Purpose of flight
- Public Use
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Waukegan → Chicago
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI89GA048
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS AND RETAINING WALL IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT & 2 OBSERVER/TRAINEES WERE ON A FLT ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORELINE. AFTER APRX 23 MIN OF FLT, WHILE APCHG TO LAND AT CHICAGO, THE PLT RPRTD AN ENG PROBLEM OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN. HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A PARKING LOT AT A WATER FILTRATION PLANT. AFTER CLRG THE ROOF OF A BLDG, THE ACFT TURNED & SUBSEQUENTLY COLLIDED WITH A RETAINING WALL AT THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT. BOTH OBSERVER/TRAINEES WERE FATALLY INJURED. THE PLT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED & WAS UNABLE TO RECALL THE EVENTS OF THE FLT. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND POSITIONED TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK, WHICH REMAINED INTACT. LESS THAN 1 GAL OF FUEL WAS ESTIMATED TO BE REMAINING IN THE LEFT TANK. THE ACFT FUEL TANKS HAD A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 50 GAL, OF WHICH, 13.5 PINTS OF FUEL WAS CONSIDERED TO BE UNUSABLE (LESS THAN 1 GAL PER TANK). APRX 3 HRS AFTER THE ACDNT, NO ODOR OF FUEL WAS NOTED BENEATH THE RUPTURED RGT FUEL TANK. NO WITNESSES OR RECORDS WERE FOUND TO INDICATE THE ACFT HAD BEEN REFUELED BEFORE THE FLT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Piper PA-28 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Beverly, Massachusetts, United States | Beverly Flight Center, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Oct 1989 | Piper PA-28 | Delavan, Minnesota, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 24 Oct 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Elkader, Iowa, United States | Pritts Aviation | Fatal | 2 |
| 14 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-160 | Hammond, New York, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 9 Jun 1989 | Piper PA-28-180 | Ashland, Virginia, United States | A & S Flying Services | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Jul 1989 | Piper PA-28-161 | Stonington, Connecticut, United States | Michael Kahlman | Serious injuries | - |
All 9,402 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Aug 1989 | Cessna 150M | Plainfield, Illinois, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1989 | McDonnell Douglas MD-80 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | American Airlines | Minor injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 1989 | Short Brothers SD360 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Simmons Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 4 May 1989 | Fokker F-27 MK500 | Moline, Illinois, United States | Air Wisconsin | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jul 1989 | McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | United Airlines | No injuries | - |
| 9 Jul 1989 | McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |