Piontkowski CHALLENGER N4526G
3 August 2009 · Kankakee, Illinois, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 3 August 2009 at about 00:49 local time, a Piontkowski CHALLENGER registered N4526G, operated by Piontkowski Jeffery J, was involved in an accident near Kankakee, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 00:49
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Kankakee, Illinois, United States
- Nearest airport
- Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK)
- Coordinates
- 41.0714, -87.8461
- Aircraft
- Piontkowski CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N4526G
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Piontkowski Jeffery J
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Kankakee → Kankakee
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN09LA488
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the telephone line and his poor judgment to fly while under the influence of alcohol. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's impairment due to the alcohol consumption.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The aircraft was observed flying low along a river about 30 to 40 feet above the water, when it impacted a telephone line that went across the river. First responders reported that the pilot had the smell of alcohol on his breath. The pilot had his blood drawn more than 3½ hours after the accident, and the laboratory results indicated 0.127 g/dL of ethanol. Examination and photographs of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. FAA regulation 91.17 Alcohol or drugs, in part, stated, "(a)No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft - (1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage; (2) While under the influence of alcohol; … or (4) While having an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater in a blood or breath specimen."
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2009 | Beechcraft S35 | Tuscola, Illinois, United States | David Hrupsa | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 2009 | T Bird T BIRD II | Carlock, Illinois, United States | Fasking Daniel M | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 2009 | Cessna C-182 | Fox Lake, Illinois, United States | Walter Hain | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2009 | Aero Commander S2R | Cordova, Illinois, United States | Frank's Flying Service | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jul 2009 | Cessna 172R | West Chicago, Illinois, United States | American Flyers Inc | No injuries | - |
| 18 Oct 2009 | Piper PA-32-260 | Peoria, Illinois, United States | Illinois Aviation Academy, Inc. | No injuries | - |