Piper PA-32RT-300 accident near Lostant, Illinois, February 23, 1990
On February 23, 1990 at about 1:06 am local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300, registered N3063B, was destroyed in an accident near Lostant, Illinois. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT AND STRUCTURAL (WING) ICING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE AIRCRAFT'S ABILITY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 23, 1990 · about 1:06 am local time
- Place
- Lostant, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300 PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300s on the register
- Registration
- N3063B · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7985021
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT INITIATED A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT IN KNOWN ICING CONDITIONS AFTER RECEIVING TWO WEATHER BRIEFINGS WHICH INFORMED HIM OF THE CONDITIONS. WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 6000 FEET, HE REPORTED TO ATC THAT HE WAS ENCOUNTERING TURBULENCE. LATER, HE SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS PICKING UP CLEAR AND RIME ICE. ATC CLEARED HIM TO A LOWER ALTITUDE AND PROVIDED A VECTOR TOWARD A NEARBY AIRPORT. SOON THEREAFTER, THE PILOT REPORTED 'WE'RE IN TROUBLE' AND THEN SAID 'WE'RE GOING DOWN.' SUBSEQUENTLY, RADAR CONTACT WAS LOST AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED ABOUT 12 MILES FROM THE AIRPORT. DURING IMPACT, WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER A 550 FOOT AREA.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 971 hours in all; 128 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 816 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 23, 1989; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: VPZ Valparaiso IN
- Destination: DVN Davenport IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 330° at 11 knots
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from PIA, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.