Piper PA-31-350 accident near Wheeling, Illinois, September 12, 1983
On September 12, 1983 at about 1:10 am local time, a Piper PA-31-350, registered N62971, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois (Palwaukee airport). It was a business 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
- September 12, 1983 · about 1:10 am local time
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · Palwaukee
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31-350 · all PA-31-350s on the register
- Registration
- N62971 · no longer on the register · serial 31-7772013
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WENT OFF THE RWY AND COLLAPSED THE LANDING GEAR AFTER POWER LOSS DURING TAKEOFF. THREE OF THE PASSENGERS FURNISHED STATEMENTS AND 2 SEEMED TO THINK THAT THE LEFT ENGINE QUIT. THE ACFT TURNED TO THE RIGHT BUT THE PILOT DID NOTKNOW WHICH ENGINE QUIT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE LEFT PROPELLER BLADES WERE IN FEATHER BUT ALL THE STOPS WERE BROKEN. THE RIGHT PROP BLADES WERE BENT BUT IN HIGH PITCH. DURING A LATER TEST RUN THE RIGHT ENGINE PRODUCED 48 INCHES OF MANIFOLD PRESSURE BUT THE LEFT PRODUCED ONLY 40 INCHES. THE RIGHT ENGINE HAD AN OIL LEAK DRIPPING ONTO THE TURBO-CHARGER. THE PUSH ROD COVERS WERE COVERED WITH A SILICONE SEALANT.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,041 hours in all; 1,966 in this make and model; 178 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 49,011 as pilot in command; 11 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,817 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-542-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: The Ertl Company
The flight
- Destination: DBQ Dunbuque IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 24, 3,652 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.