Piper PA-28 accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, October 8, 1988
On October 8, 1988 at about 11:30 am local time, a Piper PA-28, registered N4608R, was destroyed in an accident near Schaumburg, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO OIL STARVATION AND THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED EMERGENCY LANDING, DURING WHICH THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND A SWIMMING POOL, BEFORE COMING TO REST ON THE GROUND AND A CHAIN LINK FENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 1988 · about 11:30 am local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N4608R · no longer on the register · serial 28-21357
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CRUISING AT 1900' MSL, APRX 15 MI NORTH OF THE DEPARTURE ARPT, THE PLT NOTED A GRADUAL DECREASE IN ENG RPM. HE APPLIED CARB HEAT & TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, BUT THE ENG CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED AS THE PLT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON A STREET. A FIRE ERUPTED IN THE ENG COMPARTMENT AFTER THE PLANE CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED A CONNECTING ROD HAD FAILED & PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE ENG, ALLOWING OIL TO BE PORTED INTO THE ENG COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE ROD HAD FAILED FROM LACK OF LUBRICATION.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,550 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,629 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1988; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 06C Schaumburg IL at 11:15 am
- Destination: WI47 Washington Is WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from ORD, 10 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.
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.