Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Washington, Illinois, June 30, 1982
On June 30, 1982 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N2124U, was destroyed in an accident near Washington, Illinois (Hesselein (Pvt) airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 30, 1982 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Washington, Illinois · Hesselein (Pvt)
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N2124U · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7918070
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PILE OF LUMBER THAT WAS 62 FT FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. TWO WITNESSES BELIEVED THAT THE PILOT DID NOT USE ALL OFF THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. ONE WITNESS ESTIMATED THAT THE PILOT BEGAN THE TAKEOFF ABOUT 150 FT FROM THE APPROACH END. THE PILOT STATED DURING TAKEOFF, HE USED 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS; THE FLIGHT MANUAL RECOMMENDED USING 25 DEGREES FOR A SHORT FIELD TAKEOFF. HE STATED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF, HE FELT A GUST OF AIR ROCK THE AIRCRAFT AND IT DROPPED. WHEN HE RECOVERED, THE PLANE WAS HEADED TOWARD A BUILDING TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. HE TURNED RIGHT TO AVOID THE BUILDING AND SAID THAT HE HIT SOMETHING. THE MAIN WRECKAGE CAME TO REST ABOUT 165 FT AND 159 DEGREES FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT POINT WITH THE LUMBER. THE TEMPERATURE AND AIRPORT ELEVATION WERE 70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND 773 FT. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,100 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,546 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Aurora INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 12 Washington IL at 2:15 pm
- Destination: Sugar Grove IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 1,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.