Piper PA38-112 accident near Lacon, Illinois, February 1, 1984
On February 1, 1984 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Piper PA38-112, registered N91469, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lacon, Illinois (Lacon airport). It was a ferry 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 1, 1984 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lacon, Illinois · Lacon
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA38-112 · all PA38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N91469 · no longer on the register · serial 38-82A0038
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS FERRYING THE ACFT TO THE LACON ARPT FOR WINTER STORAGE. ON FINAL APCH SHE TOUCHED DOWN SHORT & STRUCK A SNOW BANK ON THE APCH END OF THE RWY. THE PLT STATED THAT DIFFICULTY IN DEPTH PERCEPTION DUE TO THE SNOW COVERED TERRAIN RESULTED IN TOUCHDOWN SHORT OF THE RWY & COLLISION WITH A SNOWBANK. THE PLT ALSO ATTRIBUTED LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN MAKE & MODEL IN CONTRIBUTING TO 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 93 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 49 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 595 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 1983; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PIA Peoria IL at 10:10 pm
- Destination: C75 Lacon IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:50 pm from PIA, 25 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.
Other NTSB records under N91469 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.