Piper PA-22-160 accident near Rock Falls, Illinois, April 20, 1995
On April 20, 1995, a Piper PA-22-160, registered N9418D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rock Falls, Illinois (Whiteside County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to refuel prior to fuel exhaustion. A factor in the accident was the pilot's poor preflight planning/preparation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 20, 1995
- Place
- Rock Falls, Illinois · Whiteside County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-22-160 · all PA-22-160s on the register
- Registration
- N9418D · no longer on the register · serial 22-6392
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE BELIEVED THERE WAS 1/2 HOUR OF FUEL REMAINING IN THE AIRPLANE'S RIGHT FUEL TANK AND NO FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. HE MADE NO VISUAL CHECK OF THE FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAXI AND DEPARTURE. AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND ON THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. THE PILOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN BACK TO THE AIRPORT TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON THE GRASS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY, NOSED OVER, AND CAME TO REST IN AN INVERTED POSITION. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO FUEL IN THE RIGHT FUEL TANK AND APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE GALLONS OF FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK. NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE REVEALED.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 462 hours in all; 332 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 406 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,443 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1994; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQI at 11:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,900 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from SQI
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.