Piper PA-28-181 N5054F

Summary

On 17 July 1999 at about 17:45 local time, a Piper PA-28-181 registered N5054F was involved in an accident near Yorkville, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 July 1999 at 17:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Yorkville, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.6398, -88.4401

Aircraft

Piper PA-28-181

Registration

N5054F

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cincinnati → Naperville

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI99FA238

2 people died.

the pilot continuing into known adverse weather conditions, attempting low altitude flight, and not maintaining terrain clearance. Factors to the accident were the thunderstorm and the improper weather evaluation by the pilot following pre-departure and in-flight weather briefings.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was flying a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) cross-country when it encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and precipitation. Witnesses stated that the airplane was flying northbound at an altitude described as being 50-60 feet above ground level (agl) before starting a turn, just prior to the in-flight collision with the terrain. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service weather-radar plots revealed that an area of precipitation had moved through the accident location, before and after the reported time of the accident. Aircraft radar track data for period before and after the reported accident time was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This aircraft radar track data was plotted on the NOAA weather-radar plots and indicated that the accident aircraft had encountered an area of convective activity prior to and about the reported accident time. A weather observation station, located 10.9 nautical miles from the accident site on a 215-degree magnetic heading, reported the weather as visibility 1 3/4 statute miles and cloud conditions of 900 scattered, 1,800 broken, and 2,500 overcast. The pilot had received three weather briefings prior to his departure. The FAA Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) advised the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended during two briefings and he was informed of deteriorating weather conditions along the proposed route of flight during his final briefing. The pilot received two weather briefings, while en route, from two FAA AFSS, and was advised of the deteriorating weather conditions, along the proposed route of flight, during each briefing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.