Piper PA-28RT-201T accident near Grayslake, Illinois, September 20, 1987
On September 20, 1987 at about 4:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201T, registered N8315S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grayslake, Illinois (Campbell Airport). It was a personal 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 20, 1987 · about 4:15 am local time
- Place
- Grayslake, Illinois · Campbell Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201T PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201Ts on the register
- Registration
- N8315S · registry record · serial 28R-8131044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT LANDED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY ON A DARK NIGHT WHEN THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INTENDED LANDING RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN SOFT TURF AND DURING SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL, TURNED RIGHT AND NOSED DOWN INTO A RAVINE. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WERE ONLY THREE RUNWAY LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THAT HIS LANDING LIGHT DID NOT HELP IN FINDING THE RUNWAY. HE ALSO STATED THAT HIS DECISION MAKING PROCESS WAS DEGRADED AS A RESULT OF FATIGUE AND STRESS CREATED WHEN HE INITIALLY SPENT ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TRYING TO LOCATE THE AIRPORT.
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: 709 hours in all; 265 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 658 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 3, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI0-360-FB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BMG Bloomington IN at 1:45 am
- Destination: C81 Grayslake IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 27, 3,250 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 am from ORD, 17 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 N8315S 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.