Piper PA-28R-200 accident near Peru, Illinois, March 13, 2004
On March 13, 2004 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-200, registered N15118, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peru, Illinois (Illinois Valley Regional 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 inadvertent landing gear retraction by the dual student during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2004 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Peru, Illinois · Illinois Valley Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N15118 · registry record · serial 28R7335023
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when the dual student inadvertently selected the landing gear lever during landing rollout. The right main gear subsequently collapsed and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The dual student reported that after landing the instructor asked him to raise the flaps. He stated that he inadvertently selected the gear switch instead of the flap lever. He noted: "The gear switch was not moved to the complete up position before the instructor announced and I realized my error." The right main landing gear collapsed, causing the aircraft to veer to the right and off the side of the runway. The nose gear subsequently collapsed and the aircraft came to rest in the grass adjacent to the runway. During a post-accident inspection, the landing gear system was activated by using the cockpit gear switch and the landing gear retracted and extended as designed. The squat switch was determined to be installed and adjusted in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements. Electrical functionality of the switch was tested and no anomalies were observed.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,753 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 2,687 as pilot in command; 1,871 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 22, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 488 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 420 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 1984
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,476 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 2003; 1,878.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VYS Peru IL at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 18 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 10:05 pm from VYS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.