Piper PA-28-151 accident near Freeburg, Illinois, August 23, 1991
On August 23, 1991 at about 11:25 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N8479F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Freeburg, Illinois. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER USE OF THE MIXTURE CONTROL BY THE PIC/CFI. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS INADEQUATE FRICTION ON THE MIXTURE CONTROL LEVER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1991 · about 11:25 pm local time
- Place
- Freeburg, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N8479F · registry record · serial 28-7715270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CFI SAID THAT WHILE PRACTICING MINIMUM CONTROLLABLE FLIGHT AND STALLS DURING A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT, THE PROPELLER CEASED TO TURN. THE MIXTURE CONTROL WAS PUSHED TO FULL RICH, BUT A RESTART WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL. AN EMERGENCY LANDING WAS ATTEMPTED ON A RURAL ROAD WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH A ROAD SIGN. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS OR FUEL SUPPLY SHORTAGE. A LOOSE FRICTION CONTROL LEVER WAS FOUND WHICH FAILED TO LOCK THE QUADRANT LEVERS IN PLACE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,322 hours in all; 205 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 1,111 as pilot in command; 843 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Scott Afb Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: BLV Scott Afb IL at 10:55 pm
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 1 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 10:55 pm from BLV, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.