Piper PA28 accident near Dwight, Illinois, April 19, 2019
On April 19, 2019 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1971 Piper PA28, registered N838JH, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Dwight, Illinois (Dwight Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to a restriction in fuel flow for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2019 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dwight, Illinois · Dwight Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28 235, built 1971 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N838JH · registry record · serial 28-7110009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was in cruise flight in the single-engine airplane when the engine started to run rough. He applied carburetor heat, but the engine continued to run rough. He noticed that the fuel pressure gauge indicated 0, so he turned on the electric fuel boost pump, which did not restore power. He then switched fuel tanks, which momentarily restored engine power. The pilot decided to divert to a nearby airport and continued to switch between fuel tanks to obtain short bursts of engine power. During landing, the airplane departed the runway surface and the nose landing gear collapsed. Examination of the fuel system found available fuel in the tanks and only a small amount of debris in the gascolator. Both the engine-driven and electric fuel boost pumps were removed from the airplane. Hand testing of the engine-driven pump found suction and pressure at the inlet and outlet ports. Testing of the electric boost pump revealed that liquid would not flow when activated. Despite the failure of the electric boost pump, it was not indicated for use in cruise flight, and its failure should not have resulted in a loss of fuel flow. It is possible that an unidentified fuel restriction prevented fuel from getting to the engine-driven fuel pump; however, the reason for or source of the fuel restriction could not be determined during postaccident examination.
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
- Fuel related during enroute (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Malfunction
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pumps › Malfunction
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,100 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 21, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,374 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2018; 18 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aten Inc
The flight
- Departed from: KDPA Dupage IL at 9:10 pm
- Destination: KCPS St Louis IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,364 ft by 21 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 21 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KPNT, 16 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on August 5, 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.
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.