Piper PA32R N9894K

Summary

On 12 August 2018 at about 13:32 local time, a Piper PA32R registered N9894K, operated by Dbg Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near South Beloit, Illinois, United States. 3 people were on board and one was seriously injured, 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 August 2018 at 13:32

Classification

Accident

Location

South Beloit, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Beloit (44C)

Coordinates

42.4922, -88.9836

Aircraft

Piper PA32R

Registration

N9894K

Category

Airplane

Year built

1978

Engines

1

Operator

Dbg Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Beloit → Baraboo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN18LA328

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed after being startled and distracted when the engine cowling opened during takeoff, which led to a subsequent impact with terrain.   

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot indicated that soon after takeoff for the personal flight, the airplane's engine cowling opened and began to swing back and forth. Concerned the cowling might fracture the windshield, he reduced engine power to land straight ahead, but, after realizing that the runway remaining was insufficient to do so, he attempted to climb and return to the runway. During his attempted go-around, the airplane began to descend and then impacted a cornfield off the end of the runway. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal flight operations. The pilot stated that he was very startled by the opening of the cowling, which distracted him from maintaining airspeed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.