Piper PA 34-220T accident near Sugar Grove, Illinois, October 6, 2017
On October 6, 2017 at about 12:06 pm local time, a 1999 Piper PA 34-220T, registered N4136D, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Sugar Grove, Illinois (Aurora Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 6, 2017 · about 12:06 pm local time
- Place
- Sugar Grove, Illinois · Aurora Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA 34-220T 220T, built 1999 · all PA 34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N4136D · no longer on the register · serial 3449101
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot of the multi-engine airplane reported that, shortly after takeoff, the right engine experienced a partial loss of power and the airplane yawed to the right. The airplane entered the clouds about 1,100 ft msl and became more difficult to control. The pilot lowered the nose to increase airspeed and the airplane exited the cloud layer in a nose-down, right-wing-low attitude. He stated that he corrected the airplane's attitude and landed in a corn field. Examination of the airplane, engines, and the right engine fuel controls revealed no anomalies. Based on the available evidence, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 17, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,622 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 17, 2017; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,751 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor LTSIO-360 -2B (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-360-2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARR Sugar Grove IL at 12:00 pm
- Destination: ICT Wichita KS
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 33, 5,503 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Sky: overcast at 300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from ARR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on April 17, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation with Fsdo Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.