Piper PA-28-180 accident near Vernon, Illinois, February 10, 1983
On February 10, 1983 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8222W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vernon, Illinois (Braun Rla airport). It was an instructional 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 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
- February 10, 1983 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vernon, Illinois · Braun Rla
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8222W · registry record · serial 28-742355
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF A RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A DITCH. THE STUDENT PILOT ON HIS FIRST SOLO CROSS COUNTRY HAD BECOME DISORIENTED AND LANDED 95 MILES OFF COURSE. HE HAD BEEN FLYING 2 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES. HE WAS SUPPOSED TO REACH ENROUTE STOP AFTER 1 HOUR AND 10 MINUTES. THE WEATHER WAS VMC AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT MADE HIS PRECAUTIONARY LANDING DOWNWIND AND COULD NOT STOP ON THE WET,ICY, SOD RUNWAY WHICH WAS 2175 FEET LONG. EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER WAS VMC THE VISIBILITY WAS RESTRICTED TO 5 MILES IN HAZE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ONE THIRD DOWN THE LENGH OF THE RUNWAY BEFORE TOUCHDOWN ON LANDING AND BRAKING WAS POOR DUE TO CONDITION OF THE SURFACE.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,104 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1982
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PLD Portland IN
- Destination: CMI Champaign IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 2,175 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,200 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:49 pm from STL, 30 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.