Piper PA32R accident near South Beloit, Illinois, August 12, 2018
On August 12, 2018 at about 1:32 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA32R, registered N9894K, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near South Beloit, Illinois (Beloit airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
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.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2018 · about 1:32 pm local time
- Place
- South Beloit, Illinois · Beloit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32R 300, built 1978 · all PA32Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9894K · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7880041
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
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.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,593 hours in all; 1,235 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 25, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,414 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 14, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 3,414 hours total
- Operator: Dbg Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 44C Beloit WI at 1:31 pm
- Destination: DLL Baraboo WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from KJVL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2019. 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation with FAA Inspector and Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Safety Briefing - Startle Response | 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.
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.