Piper PA-20 accident near Greenwood, Illinois, May 21, 1992
On May 21, 1992 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N6989K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Greenwood, Illinois (Galt airport). It was an instructional 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
EXCESSIVE APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES DURING LANDING ROLL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1992 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Greenwood, Illinois · Galt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N6989K · no longer on the register · serial PA20-98
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS GETTING A CHECK OUT IN TAIL WHEEL AIRCRAFT. EARLIER IN THE DAY, THE PILOT AND AN INSTRUCTOR HAD PERFORMED SIX STOP AND GO LANDINGS. THIS FLIGHT WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST OBSERVED SOLO. DURING LANDING ROLL HE APPLIED EXCESSIVE BRAKING AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 230 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 175 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,390 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1991; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UGN Waukegan IL at 4:15 pm
- Destination: UGN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 pm from UGN, 23 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.