Piper PA-38-112 accident near St. Jacob, Illinois, July 31, 1988
On July 31, 1988 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9291T, was substantially damaged in an accident near St. Jacob, Illinois (Shafer Metro East Airport). It was an instructional 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
- July 31, 1988 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- St. Jacob, Illinois · Shafer Metro East Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9291T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0329
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE INITIAL CLIMBOUT THE STUDENT PILOT FAILED TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES LOCATED OFF OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES, HE ELECTED TO ATTEMPT TO FLY UNDER THEM. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A SECOND (LOWER) SET OF WIRES AND FELL TO THE GROUND. THE TEMPERATURE WAS 92 DEGREES F AT THE TIME OF THE ACC.
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: 49 hours in all; 49 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,963 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 6, 1988; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,600 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from BLV, 12 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 N9291T 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.