Piper PA-28R-180 accident near Newark, Illinois, August 30, 1991
On August 30, 1991 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-180, registered N3704T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Newark, Illinois (Cushing Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION MAKING. A RELATED FACTOR WAS: THE WET, SLIPPERY CONDITION OF THE GRASS RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 1991 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Newark, Illinois · Cushing Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-180 · all PA-28R-180s on the register
- Registration
- N3704T · registry record · serial 28R30008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE ARRIVED AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT AFTER A THUNDERSTORM PASSED THROUGH THE AREA. HE SAW STANDING WATER ON THE APPROACH END OF THE GRASS STRIP, SO HE ADJUSTED HIS APPROACH AND LANDED LONG. HE REPORTED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS VERY SLICK, AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE AIRPLANE BEFORE THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE SLID INTO A DITCH LOCATED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
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: 114 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 84 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1991; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-BIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: STQ Streator IL at 9:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.