Probable cause
The pilot's failure to conduct a go-around due to his excessive airspeed while on approach to land, which resulted in a runway excursion.
NTSB analysis
The pilot departed on a cross-country flight and diverted to an alternate airport due to deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot reported that his airspeed on approach was too fast for the conditions, but he continued with the landing on the wet, short, turf runway. The airplane departed the runway and impacted a barbed wire fence, where it sustained substantial damage to its wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident flight.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA647 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 14, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Pinckneyville, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Lambert Airport (24LL)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Piper PA-28-181
- N-number
- N9513C
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.