Piper PA-28-151 accident near Manhattan, Illinois, November 20, 1992
On November 20, 1992 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N44515, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manhattan, Illinois. It was an aerial observation 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
INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1992 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Manhattan, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N44515 · no longer on the register · serial 28-7415654
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT ENROUTE TO PIPELINE PATROL WHEN HE STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR, LOST ALTITUDE, AND STRUCK POWER LINES. THE PILOT MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,577 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 147 in the last 90 days; 48 in the last 30 days; 1,509 as pilot in command; 936 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,509 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 16, 1992; 56 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OLY Olney IL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: OLY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 17 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from MDW, 25 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.