Piper PA-38-112 accident near Lincoln, Illinois, October 21, 1989
On October 21, 1989 at about 2:44 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N9487T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln, Illinois (Logan County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE RUNWAY CONDITION & OBSTRUCTIONS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 21, 1989 · about 2:44 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln, Illinois · Logan County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N9487T · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0114
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT LANDED AT AN ARPT THAT WAS CLOSED FOR CONSTRUCTION WHEN HIS ACFT WAS LOW ON FUEL. HE REFUELED, BUT ONLY HAD ABOUT 1200 FT OF AVAILABLE RWY FOR TAKEOFF. THE SOD RWY WAS WET & THE GRASS WAS RPRTD TO BE 'LONG.' THE PLT RPRTD THAT AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB. HE SAID THAT HE TURNED RIGHT & LANDED TO AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS, (TREES & HOUSES), BUT THE ACFT HIT 2 HOUSES BEFORE STOPPING.
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: 206 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 167 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: C09 Morris IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,700 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from SPI, 26 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.