Piper PA-22-150 accident near Chicago, Illinois, April 4, 1989
On April 4, 1989 at about 8:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-22-150, registered N2944P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois (Meigs 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 PILOT'S FAILURE TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CROSSWIND CONDITION WHICH EXISTED DURING THE LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE GUSTY, CROSSWIND WHICH EXISTED AND THE FAILURE OF THE AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE CROSSWIND PERFORMANCE DATA FOR THE AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 4, 1989 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Meigs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-150 · all PA-22-150s on the register
- Registration
- N2944P · no longer on the register · serial 22-3213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 18 AFTER HE HAD BEEN INFORMED OF WINDS FROM 260 DEGREES AT 19 KTS, GUSTING TO 30 KTS. JUST AS HE WAS ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN, A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE ACFT, DRIVING THE LEFT WING TO THE RWY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT SLID TO A STOP. THE OWNERS HANDBOOK, IN THE SECTION ON CROSSWINDS, PROVIDES NO GUIDANCE ON A CROSSWIND LIMIT. EVEN WITHOUT GUSTS, THE CROSSWIND COMPONENT COMPUTES TO NEARLY 19 KNOTS.
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: 276 hours in all; 227 in this make and model; 276 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-TC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RAC Racine WI at 8:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,948 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 19 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from CGX
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.