Piper PA32RT accident near Dekalb, Illinois, May 19, 2023
On May 19, 2023 at about 9:45 pm local time, a 1978 Piper PA32RT, registered N442TM, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Dekalb, Illinois (De Kalb Taylor Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 aircraft control during a go-around in gusting winds. Contributing was the presence of windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 19, 2023 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Dekalb, Illinois · De Kalb Taylor Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA32RT 300T, built 1978 · all PA32RTs on the register
- Registration
- N442TM · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7887225
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor reported that the pilot was receiving landing training in his airplane. As the airplane touched down on the runway, a gust of wind caused it to balloon. The flight instructor ordered the pilot to go around, and the airplane accelerated to 85 kts in a slight climb. About 25 feet above the ground the airplane abruptly and rapidly pitched over to about 20° nose low. The flight instructor immediately came on the control yoke and pulled but received no response to his pull. The airplane impacted the runway about 10o nose low and slid off the left side into the grass where it came to a stop. The pilot, flight instructor, and a passenger egressed the airplane without incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The flight instructor reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the airplane was landing on runway 27 with wind 290o at 14 kts gusting to 19 kts. The pilot reported that the nose dropped dramatically and that neither he nor the flight instructor had time to react with additional back pressure on the control yoke. The pilot said during the pitch over that his hands never left the control yoke. The flight instructor further reported that light clear air turbulence was present at the time and “windshear caused our demise.”
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
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Windshear or thunderstorm during approach (VFR go-around)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during approach (VFR go-around)
- Simulated/training event during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR go-around)
- Runway excursion during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Instructor/check pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on equipment
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,250 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 16,755 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 22, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 231 hours in all; 1 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,180.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming Engines TIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,201 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 16 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from KDKB
Weather report (METAR): KDKB 192135Z AUTO 29016G20KT 10SM CLR 19/09 A3001 RMK AO2 T01900089
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 5, 2023. 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 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Various Statements | PDF, 4 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.