Piper PA-28R-200 N56718

Summary

On 6 August 1999 at about 02:44 local time, a Piper PA-28R-200 registered N56718 was involved in an accident near Grayslake, Illinois, United States. 4 people were on board and 4 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 August 1999 at 02:44

Classification

Accident

Location

Grayslake, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Campbell Airport (C81)

Coordinates

42.3405, -88.0310

Aircraft

Piper PA-28R-200

Registration

N56718

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Delavan → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI99FA278

4 people died.

the pilot not maintaining altitude and clearance. Factors were the light condition of night, the pilot's lack of recent experience in night operations, and the transmission wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane struck power lines while maneuvering at night. FAA radar tracked an aircraft beacon from seven statute miles southeast of Lake Lawn Airport to its last recorded point, 1 mile southwest of Campbell Airport, at 900 feet MSL. A witness said he saw the aircraft 'flying at a low altitude', the 'planes landing lights illuminate a high power tension line tower', and he 'saw three flashes of blue light in the sky.' A high voltage wire was found torn 20 feet west of its 132.25 feet high tower. Campbell Airport's elevation is 788 feet MSL. The airport was about 3/4 mile and 035 degrees from that tower. The pilot's last recorded night flight was June 29, 1998. An on-scene inspection of the airplane revealed that there was control and engine continuity. A witness stated he saw an explosion. The on-scene investigation revealed a fire limited to the detached left wing. The rest of the airplane impacted terrain northwest of the torn high voltage wire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.