Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Round Lake, Illinois, June 1, 1992
On June 1, 1992 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N812PC, was destroyed in an accident near Round Lake, 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, AND THE FIRE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR REASONS UNDETERMINED.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1992 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Round Lake, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N812PC · no longer on the register · serial 76-80250
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE IN CRUISE FLIGHT, SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FARM FIELD. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN FLAMES WERE PRESENT IN THE COCKPIT. AFTER THE LANDING, THE PILOT EXITED THE AIRPLANE, WITH MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO BURN. A SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION FAILED TO REVEAL THE SOURCE WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINATED. THE PILOT DESCRIBED THE ORIGIN TO BE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE; HOWEVER, DURING THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES HE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO DISENGAGE THE MASTER SWITCH.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 185 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 7,765 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,906 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1992; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 10C Wonder Lake IL at 12:50 pm
- Destination: UGN Waukegan IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from ORD, 27 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.