Piper PA-28-181 accident near Yorkville, Illinois, July 17, 1999
On July 17, 1999 at about 5:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-181, registered N5054F, was destroyed in an accident near Yorkville, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot continuing into known adverse weather conditions, attempting low altitude flight, and not maintaining terrain clearance. Factors to the accident were the thunderstorm and the improper weather evaluation by the pilot following pre-departure and in-flight weather briefings.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1999 · about 5:45 pm local time
- Place
- Yorkville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N5054F · registry record · serial 28-7790083
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was flying a Visual Flight Rules (VFR) cross-country when it encountered instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) and precipitation. Witnesses stated that the airplane was flying northbound at an altitude described as being 50-60 feet above ground level (agl) before starting a turn, just prior to the in-flight collision with the terrain. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service weather-radar plots revealed that an area of precipitation had moved through the accident location, before and after the reported time of the accident. Aircraft radar track data for period before and after the reported accident time was obtained from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This aircraft radar track data was plotted on the NOAA weather-radar plots and indicated that the accident aircraft had encountered an area of convective activity prior to and about the reported accident time. A weather observation station, located 10.9 nautical miles from the accident site on a 215-degree magnetic heading, reported the weather as visibility 1 3/4 statute miles and cloud conditions of 900 scattered, 1,800 broken, and 2,500 overcast. The pilot had received three weather briefings prior to his departure. The FAA Automated Flight Service Station (AFSS) advised the pilot that VFR flight was not recommended during two briefings and he was informed of deteriorating weather conditions along the proposed route of flight during his final briefing. The pilot received two weather briefings, while en route, from two FAA AFSS, and was advised of the deteriorating weather conditions, along the proposed route of flight, during each briefing.
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: 304 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 248 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,733 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 12, 1998; 123 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ISZ Cincinnati OH at 3:40 pm
- Destination: LL10 Naperville IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 1.8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,800 ft; scat at 900 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from C09, 11 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.