Piper PA-28-181 accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, April 7, 2021
On April 7, 2021 at about 3:15 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA-28-181, registered N21175, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Schaumburg, Illinois (Schaumburg Rgnl airport). It was an other work-use 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
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the rejected takeoff with a left quartering crosswind that shifted to a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 7, 2021 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · Schaumburg Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181, built 1978 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N21175 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7990037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during takeoff, the airplane’s airspeed momentarily stopped about 40 knots and then increased again, and the airplane reached its rotation speed, about 60 knots, about one-half to two-thirds down the runway. The airplane lifted off, but the pilot noticed no gain in airspeed and altitude as he began to climb out. He pitched the nose down as the stall warning horn came on, and he landed the airplane firmly on the remaining runway. The pilot could not maintain directional control following the firm landing and the airplane exited the runway striking a windsock with its right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard right wing. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 29 with a left quartering crosswind of 10 knots that shifted to a tailwind.
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
- Windshear or thunderstorm during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 317 hours in all; 133 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: January 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11/2, 3,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 am from KORD, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KORD 071451Z 18010KT 10SM FEW048 SCT250 21/12 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP093 T02110117 58006=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N21175 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.