Piper PA28R-180 accident near Frankfort, Illinois, May 29, 1989
On May 29, 1989 at about 11:15 pm local time, a Piper PA28R-180, registered N4980J, was destroyed in an accident near Frankfort, Illinois (Frankfort 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN CROSS/TAILWIND CONDITIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 1989 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Frankfort, Illinois · Frankfort · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA28R-180 · all PA28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4980J · no longer on the register · serial 28R-30733
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND WITH A RIGHT QUARTERING HEADWIND, THE WIND SHIFTED TO A RIGHT QUARTERING TAILWIND AND STARTED TO GUST. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT, TOWARDS SOME PARKED AIRPLANES AND HANGARS, SO THE PILOT ELECTED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND. WHILE THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB OUT AND CLEAR THE HANGARS, THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DRIFT TO THE LEFT. THE LEFT WING STRUCK A HANGAR, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED INTO THE GROUND.
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: 259 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,150 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 8, 1989; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-B1E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGI Cape Girardeau MO at 10:20 pm
- Destination: C18 Frankfort IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 9, 3,176 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 pm from ORD, 30 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.
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.