Piper PA-28-161 accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, February 19, 2006
On February 19, 2006 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N4328D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Schaumburg, Illinois (Schaumburg Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during takeoff-initial climb.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 2006 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · Schaumburg Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N4328D · no longer on the register · serial 28-8416019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a freeway after a loss of engine power during initial climb. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that he and the student pilot checked the fuel quantity during the preflight and one tank was full and the other had over 1/2 tank. He reported that the fuel selector was positioned to the fullest tank for takeoff. The carburetor heat, magnetos, and the fuel boost pump were checked during run-up. The CFI reported that the student pilot performed the takeoff, and that the takeoff roll and the rotation felt normal. During initial climb, the airspeed was low and the airplane was not climbing well. The CFI reported that the tachometer was indicating 2,300 rpm when it should have been 2,700 rpm. The CFI instructed the student pilot to continue to climb straight ahead. The CFI pulled the carburetor heat to ON. He reported that the rpm dropped to 1,100 to 1,200, and that the engine was running extremely rough. The airplane was about 300-400 feet above ground level (agl) and the student pilot lowered the nose to keep the airspeed up. The CFI turned the carburetor heat to OFF and the rpm went back to 2,300 rpm, but then the engine quit. The CFI reported that he took control of the airplane. The engine momentarily started again, but then quit. The CFI prepared to make a forced landing on a nearby freeway, and he instructed the student pilot to switch fuel tanks, but it had no effect. The CFI reported that the right wing struck two light poles during landing, impacted the freeway, and skidded to a stop. The inspection of the engine revealed no preexisting anomalies. Fuel was found in both wing fuel tanks. A fuel receipt indicated that the airplane had been fueled with 15.0 gallons of fuel on the morning of the accident.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 5,800 as pilot in command; 4,500 on instruments
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,777 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2005; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,440 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O6C Schaumburg IL at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point -4°F (-20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.44 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from DPA, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4328D 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.