Piper PA-38-112 accident near Savoy, Illinois, May 18, 1997
On May 18, 1997 at about 1:32 am local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N383AV, was destroyed in an accident near Savoy, Illinois (Univ. Of Illinois-Willard airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper preflight planning/preparation and her not maintaining airspeed. Factors were fuel exhaustion and entering an inadvertent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 1997 · about 1:32 am local time
- Place
- Savoy, Illinois · Univ. Of Illinois-Willard · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N383AV · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0124
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was on the initial climb after a touch and go landing. The engine lost power followed by a departure from controlled flight and a collision with the terrain. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed only unusable fuel remaining in both fuel tanks. The operator of the airplane indicated that at the time of departure the airplane contained a maximum of 20 gallons of aviation fuel. According to the Hobbs meter the airplane was operated for 2.8 hours. The operator said that their experience with this airplane in all flight conditions fuel consumption averaged 6.5 gallons/hour.
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: 180 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,462 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 19, 1997; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: CMI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32L, 8,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 am from CMI
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.