Piper PA-28-180 accident near Seneca, Illinois, July 14, 1991
On July 14, 1991 at about 5:55 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N7616W, was destroyed in an accident near Seneca, Illinois (Springbrook airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
PROPER GLIDEPATH NOT MAINTAINED, AND INADEQUATE ALTITUDE AND VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1991 · about 5:55 pm local time
- Place
- Seneca, Illinois · Springbrook · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7616W · no longer on the register · serial 281577
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON SHORT FINAL FOR LANDING AT A PRIVATE AIRPORT AND STRUCK AN UNMARKED POWER LINE. THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A CREEK SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE APPROACH AS LOW AND FLAT. THE POWER LINE WAS 28 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL, AND 485 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S LOG BOOK REVEALED NO PREVIOUS RECORDED FLIGHTS TO THIS AIRPORT.
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: 140 hours in all; 59 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 94 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Props & Throttles, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LOT Romeoville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.