Piper PA-28-140 accident near Morris, Illinois, September 16, 2000
On September 16, 2000 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N33036, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morris, Illinois (Morris Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The improper servicing of the left main landing gear tire which resulted in it having low air pressure and the pilot's inability to maintain directional control on landing. A factor associated with the accident was the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 16, 2000 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Morris, Illinois · Morris Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N33036 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7525141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was unable to maintain directional control of the airplane during the landing roll. The nose gear collapsed and the left main gear was twisted when the airplane traveled off the west side of the runway and collided with a ditch. Inspection of the airplane revealed the left main gear tire was flat on touchdown. There were no holes found in the tire. The pilot stated he serviced all three landing gear tires prior to takeoff.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,638 hours in all; 1,474 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,113 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Whieeling IL at 12:15 pm
- Destination: C09
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 126°F (52°C), dew point 115°F (46°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from ARR, 23 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.