Piper PA28 accident near Columbia, Illinois, July 28, 2018
On July 28, 2018 at about 5:25 pm local time, a 1971 Piper PA28, registered N624FL, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Columbia, Illinois (Sackman Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's inability to climb due to reduced engine power as a result of insufficient compression in all cylinders and fouled spark plugs in the No. 2 cylinder while operating near its maximum gross weight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 2018 · about 5:25 pm local time
- Place
- Columbia, Illinois · Sackman Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 140, built 1971 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N624FL · no longer on the register · serial 28-7125513
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the pilot's departure for the local flight, witnesses observed the airplane climbing at a shallower attitude than normal. The airplane appeared to level off and then contacted transmission lines about 1/2 mile from the departure end of the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident examination of the engine found fouled sparkplugs in cylinder No. 2 and a compression check of all the cylinders revealed that they were all below 60 psi. Cylinder No. 2 was at 18 psi, and the other three cylinders were about 50 psi. An engine manufacturer's service letter stated if the pressure reading is below 60 psi, removal and overhaul of the cylinders should be considered. A weight and balance calculation revealed that the airplane was operating near its maximum gross weight. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the partial loss of engine power due to low compression in all of the cylinders and fouled sparkplugs in the No. 2 cylinder. The loading of the airplane near its maximum gross weight combined with a reduction in available engine power likely did not allow for the airplane to climb normally.
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 takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Not serviced/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Not specified
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Contributed to outcome
Flight instructor
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 243 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 28, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,719 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 2017; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H49 Columbia IL at 5:25 pm
- Destination: H49 Columbia IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03, 2,450 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KCPS, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 2, 2020. 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 | NTSB 6120 Not Received | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Findings | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Factual Narrative Changes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Lycoming Service Instruction 1191A | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N624FL the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.