Piper PA-32-301 accident near Grayslake, Illinois, July 15, 1989
On July 15, 1989 at about 5:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8301F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grayslake, Illinois (Campbell-Grayslake 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 IMPROPER FLARE AND RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING, AND HIS FAILURE TO GO AROUND (WHEN THERE WAS SUFFICIENT SPEED AND RUNWAY REMAINING). A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS HIS LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN TYPE OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1989 · about 5:01 pm local time
- Place
- Grayslake, Illinois · Campbell-Grayslake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8301F · registry record · serial 32-8306004
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT WAS ON A FLT TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS & LANDINGS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ACFT RE-FAMILIARIZATION BEFORE A PLANNED X-COUNTRY FLT. AS HE WAS LANDING, THE ACFT BOUNCED 3 TIMES. HE RPRTD THAT ON THE 3RD TOUCHDOWN, HE WAS 'NOT ABLE TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT FLARE TO AVOID TOUCHING DOWN NOSE WHEEL FIRST.' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED & THE ACFT CAME TO REST, NOSE DOWN, ON THE RWY. DRG THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS, THE PLT HAD ACCRUED 3.5 HRS IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT; HOWEVER, SINCE 5/20/89, ALL OF HIS FLT TIME HAD BEEN IN ANOTHER TYPE OF ACFT WHICH HAD DIFFERENT LANDING CHARACTERISTICS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 412 hours in all; 74 in this make and model; 47 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 378 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,485 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 31, 1989; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C81 at 4:50 pm
- Destination: C81
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,250 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.