Piper PA-28-161 accident near Hoffman Estates, Illinois, April 11, 1984
On April 11, 1984 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N8400B, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hoffman Estates, Illinois. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- April 11, 1984 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Hoffman Estates, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N8400B · registry record · serial 28-8116250
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT NOSED OVER IN A PLOWED FIELD AFTER THE PLT MADE AN OFF-ARPT LANDING. THE PLT SAID HE WAS PRACTICING TURNS AROUND A POINT WHEN HE NOTICED A LOSS OF ALT AND A SPUTTERING OF THE ENGINE. SINCE HE WAS LOW HE DECIDED TO LAND. (THEREWAS A SOD STRIP 1/2 MILE FROM THE FIELD CHOSEN.) DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT A WING WAS DRAGGED WHILE TURNING TO AVOID WORKMEN AND THE ACFT FINALLY NOSED OVER. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION DID NOT SHOW ANY EVIDENCE OF ENGINE MALFUNCTION NOT CRASH RELATED.
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
- Flight time: 84 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,865 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 3, 1984; 65 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06C Schaumburg IL at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from DPA, 10 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.