Piper PA-24-250 accident near Mattoon, Illinois, June 16, 1988
On June 16, 1988 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N8226P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mattoon, Illinois (Mattoon airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were 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
- June 16, 1988 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Mattoon, Illinois · Mattoon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N8226P · no longer on the register · serial 24-3479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
UPON RETURN FROM A LOCAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FLIGHT, THE PILOT FAILED TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED, DOWN AND LOCKED. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN, THE GEAR WAS ONLY EXTENDED APPROXIMATELY 10%; IT COLLAPSED FULLY WHEN IT CONTACTED THE GROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT SLID TO A STOP ON ITS BELLY. THE PAX STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE GEAR WAS STILL IN THE UP POSITION ON SHORT FINAL AND THE PILOT LOWERED THE GEAR HANDLE ONLY WHEN THE PAX QUERIED HIM. POST-ACCIDENT GEAR ACTUATION REVEALED THAT THE GEAR FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. HOWEVER, THE GEAR WARNING HORN WAS ERRATIC.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 3 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,833 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 6, 5,799 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:36 pm from DEC, 35 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N8226P 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.