Piper PA-28-140D accident near Markham, Illinois, May 2, 1992
On May 2, 1992 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140D, registered N1814T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Markham, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE RESULT OF AN INADEQUATE ANNUAL INSPECTION BY OTHER MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AND, AS A RESULT, A TOTAL FAILURE OF THE THROTTLE LINKAGE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT OVERSHOT HIS INTENDED EMERGENCY LANDING AREA, DUE TO EXCESSIVE SPEED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 1992 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Markham, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140D · all PA-28-140Ds on the register
- Registration
- N1814T · registry record · serial 28-7125166
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE LIGHT SINGLE-ENGINED AIRPLANE HAD DESCENDED TO A NEW ALTITUDE. THE PILOT ADVANCED THE THROTTLE WITH THE INTENT OF OBTAINING CRUISE POWER. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE POWER APPLICATION. IT REMAINED AT THE PREVIOUSLY SET IDLE RPM AND BEGAN GRADUALLY LOOSING THE RPM. THE PILOT CHOSE A FLAT AREA ADJACENT TO A POND FOR THE FORCED LANDING. THE PILOT STATED HE DID NOT TOUCH DOWN ON THE FLAT AREA BECAUSE THE AIRPLANE'S AIRSPEED WAS TOO FAST. THE AIRPLANE TOUCHED DOWN ON THE RIDGE THAT WAS AT THE END OF THE FLAT AREA AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AN ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE THROTTLE ROD END BEARING WAS NOT ATTACHED TO THE THROTTLE RACKET. THE ATTACHING BOLT WAS MISSING. BOTH COMPONENTS WERE COMPLETELY SEPARATEED RATHER THAN ATTACHED.
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: 327 hours in all; 318 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 280 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,376 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 6, 1992; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 50I Kentland IN at 6:55 pm
- Destination: MDW Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from MDW, 11 miles away
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.