Piper PA-30 accident near West Chicago, Illinois, December 17, 2025
On December 17, 2025 at about 7:49 pm local time, a 1969 Piper PA-30, registered N8693Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois (Dupage airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2025 · about 7:49 pm local time
- Place
- West Chicago, Illinois · Dupage · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30, built 1969 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8693Y · registry record · serial 30-1839
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On December 17, 2025, about 1349 central standard time, a Piper PA-30 airplane, N8693Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Airport surveillance video captured the airplane during takeoff. In the video, the airplane appeared to drift to the right of the runway centerline during the initial climb and reached a maximum height of about 75 ft above ground level. The airplane appeared to maintain a nose-high attitude and banked to the left and right before the right bank angle increased to about 90°. The airplane then impacted terrain in a nose-low, right-wing-low attitude. Preliminary air traffic control information revealed that the pilot was cleared for takeoff from runway 20R, and there were no other radio calls made by the pilot after he repeated the takeoff clearance. The main wreckage came to rest about 567 ft west of runway 20R, south of taxiway T. The initial point of impact was about 106 ft east of the main wreckage. The path from the initial impact point to the main wreckage was a magnetic heading of 255°. The left engine propeller was found embedded in an impact crater along the debris field about 45 ft from the main wreckage. Ground scars consistent with propeller strikes were observed near the impact crater. The main wreckage came to rest upright, supported by the extended main landing gear. Both wings remained attached to the fuselage with damage consistent with the impact sequence. Both engines remained partially attached to the wings through control cables and wire harnesses. The left engine was found inverted and rested on top of the left wing. The right engine was found hanging from the nacelle firewall. The forward fuselage exhibited accordion crushing consistent with impact damage, and the fuselage was fractured aft of the rear seats. The empennage remained intact with compression damage consistent with the impact sequence. Initial examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the flight controls or engines that would have precluded normal operation. Two witnesses observed the accident sequence and stated that the airplane engines sounded normal (figure 1). The wreckage was retained for further examination. Figure 1. Overview of Accident Site
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 control in flight during unknown defining event
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 02L/, 7,571 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 2:00 pm from KDPA, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDPA 171952Z 14004KT 10SM CLR 04/M01 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP153 T00391011 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN26FA064.