Piper PA-25-150 accident near Sullivan, Illinois, March 17, 1990
On March 17, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-150, registered N6340Z, was destroyed in an accident near Sullivan, Illinois. It was a personal 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE TERRAIN CLEARANCE DURING A TURN AT LOW ALTITUDE, RESULTING IN GROUND COLLISION. CONTRIBUTING TO THE SEVERITY OF THE PILOT'S INJURY WAS HIS FAILURE TO USE THE INSTALLED SHOULDER HARNESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 17, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Sullivan, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-150 · all PA-25-150s on the register
- Registration
- N6340Z · no longer on the register · serial 25-523
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED REFUELING AT HIS FATHER'S FARM AND TOOK OFF TO THE WEST FROM A DIRT FIELD. AT ABOUT 25 FT AGL, THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A RIGHT TURN AND REMAINED IN A BANK UNTIL IT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE RIGHT WINGTIP. THE AIRPLANE WAS DESTROYED AS IT CARTWHEELED TO REST. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURY AND HAD NO RECALL OF THE FINAL MANEUVERS.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 6,713 hours in all; 905 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 6,444 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,285 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 9, 1989; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: IOW Iowa City IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 18 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from DEC, 19 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.