Piper PA-38-112 accident near Joliet, Illinois, September 27, 1987
On September 27, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N6320A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Joliet, Illinois (Joliet Park District airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people 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
- September 27, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Joliet, Illinois · Joliet Park District · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N6320A · no longer on the register · serial 3878A0384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT LANDED ON WHAT THE PILOT THOUGHT WAS A RUNWAY. HE STATED THAT ON SHORT FINAL THE AIRCRAFT FLOATED BEFORE TOUCHING DOWN AND CONSEQUENTLY THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, HE BRAKED HARD AND THE AIRCRAFT SWERVED LEFT AND WENT OVER ON ITS BACK AS THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THERE IS NO RUNWAY 33, WHICH IS THE RUNWAY IDENTIFIED AS HAVING LANDED ON BY THE PLT, AT JOLIET PARK DISTRICT 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
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 437 hours in all; 182 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 335 as pilot in command
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,944 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IC5 Plainfield IL at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 12:50 pm from DPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.