Piper PA-28-180 accident near Alton, Illinois, November 12, 1994
On November 12, 1994 at about 1:50 am local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N5397L, was destroyed in an accident near Alton, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to refuel. Factors associated with the accident were unsuitable terrain, the vehicle and building which the airplane contacted, and the dark night conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 1994 · about 1:50 am local time
- Place
- Alton, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N5397L · no longer on the register · serial 28-4706
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
BEFORE DEPARTING FOR A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT THE PILOT HAD THE AIRPLANE REFUELED. ACCORDING TO HIS STATEMENTS, AND THE FUEL RECEIPT, THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED WITH ABOUT 36 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS CRUISING AT 4,500 FEET MSL WITH 75 PERCENT POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS AND 29 MINUTES OF OPERATION. DURING ITS APPROACH TO A FORCED LANDING THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK, COMING TO REST AFTER STRIKING A BRICK WALL HEAD-ON. AN EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE'S CARBURETOR WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO COLLISION DAMAGE. ACCORDING TO THE ENGINE MANUFACTURER, AND AIRPLANE PILOT OPERATING HANDBOOK, THE ENGINE SHOULD CONSUME 10 GALLONS OF FUEL PER HOUR AT THE POWER SETTING CHOSEN BY THE PILOT. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE THAT WOULD PREVENT IT FROM PRODUCING POWER.
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: 271 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 204 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,835 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 23, 1994; 68 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGX Chigago IL at 11:20 pm
- Destination: SUS Chesterfield MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 am from ALN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.