Piper PA-32-300 accident near Lacon, Illinois, March 5, 1985
On March 5, 1985, a Piper PA-32-300, registered N3012L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lacon, Illinois (Marshall County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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
- March 5, 1985
- Place
- Lacon, Illinois · Marshall County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
- Registration
- N3012L · registry record · serial 327940031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON FINAL APCH MODERATE TURBULENCE WAS EXPERIENCED. A 200 TO 300 FOOT VERTICLE LOSS OF ALT OCCURRED. THE PLT ADDED PWR AND INCREASED THE PITCH ATTITUDE. BEFORE ALT COULD BE REGAINED THE ACFT CONTACTED A UTILITY POLE. THE APCH WAS BEING MADE TO RWY 18. THE NEAREST WX REPORTING STATION, 25 MILES AWAY, REPORTED WINDS FROM 250 DEGREES AT 22 KTS GUSTING TO 36 KTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,808 hours in all; 7,424 in this make and model; 723 in the last 90 days; 7,283 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K165 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALN Alton IL at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 22 knots, gusting 36
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,500 ft; scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.