Piper PA-46-350P accident near Rockford, Illinois, January 25, 1999
On January 25, 1999 at about 3:56 am local time, a Piper PA-46-350P, registered N181JW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Illinois (Greater Rockford airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot to maintain flying speed and ground clearance while on a night circling approach. Factors were existing icing conditions and the airframe and windshield icing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 25, 1999 · about 3:56 am local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Greater Rockford · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-350P PA-46-350 · all PA-46-350Ps on the register
- Registration
- N181JW · registry record · serial 4636181
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight crashed short of the intended runway while circling at night after missing an ILS approach. Icing conditions existed and the pilot said a lot of ice had accumulated on the airplane. He requested to circle around after the missed approach.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 567 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 14, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 24, 1998; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,300 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO540-AE2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CGF Cleveland OH
- Destination: RFD Rockford IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 19, 8,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 am from RFD
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI99LA073.