Piper PA-22-150 accident near Plato Center, Illinois, November 9, 2007
On November 9, 2007 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N2813Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plato Center, Illinois (Olson Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The excessive airspeed used by the pilot which resulted in an overrun, impact with a ditch and subsequent nose over. The ditch was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2007 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Plato Center, Illinois · Olson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2813Z · no longer on the register · serial 22-6806
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged after impacting a ditch and nosed over during landing. The pilot reported landing with extra airspeed to compensate for variable wind conditions. He reported that the winds at a nearby airport were from 310-330 degrees, at 10 knots gusting to 15 knots. He reported landing on runway 06 (2400 feet by 100 feet), which is oriented downhill, and upon landing he retracted the flaps and actuated the brakes by pulling the lever, but the airplane did not slow down enough to stop. He stated that when he realized he was not slow enough, it was too late to apply power for a go-around, so he "rode it out." The airplane crossed the road off the departure end of the runway, struck a ditch, and nosed over in a farm field. The pilot was not injured. The airplane damage included the propeller, engine, engine mount, cowling, two wing struts, windshield, rudder, one elevator, wing ribs and fabric. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
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: 455 hours in all; 32 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 379 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,486.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C09 Morris IL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: LL53 Elgin IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 1,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,100 ft; clear
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KARR, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.