Piper PA-28-140 accident near Romeoville, Illinois, August 9, 1994
On August 9, 1994 at about 10:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N3634R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeoville, Illinois (Lewis University airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation and improper emergency procedure. Factors associated with the accident are the pilot's improper positioning of the fuel tank selector, and the rough, uneven terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 1994 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- Romeoville, Illinois · Lewis University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N3634R · registry record · serial 28-7125140
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS ON A LOCAL PLEASURE FLIGHT WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND HE WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A FIELD SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE SAID THAT PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, HE HAD INADVERTENTLY SELECTED A NEARLY EMPTY FUEL TANK, AND THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER BECAUSE OF FUEL STARVATION. HE STATED THAT HE FAILED TO CHECK THE FUEL SELECTOR FOLLOWING THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AND THUS DID NOT MOVE THE SELECTOR TO THE OTHER, NEARLY FULL GAS TANK. THE AIRPLANE SUSEQUENTLY LANDED IN A ROUGH CORNFIELD WITH A MATURE CROP.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1994; 1 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: LOT IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 4,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; not recorded at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from DPA, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.