Piper PA-22 accident near Harvard, Illinois, July 15, 1994
On July 15, 1994 at about 8:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-22, registered N8512C, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harvard, Illinois (Susan Dacy airport). 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 excessive taxi speed. A factor in the accident was the wet grass runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 1994 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Harvard, Illinois · Susan Dacy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N8512C · no longer on the register · serial 22-1223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE PILOT LANDED ON THE WET GRASS AIRSTRIP, COMPLETED THE LANDING ROLL, AND BEGAN TO TAXI BACK TO THE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. THE RUNWAY SLOPED DOWN SLIGHTLY, AND AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND RUDDER TO TURN THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME INVERTED. THE PILOT REPORTED NO PREACCIDENT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE AIRPLANE.
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: 1,162 hours in all; 505 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 54 in the last 30 days; 1,107 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,800 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 15, 1993; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI05 Big Foot WI at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 300 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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.