NTSB Factual Report

On June 16, 2001, at 1112 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N75238, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain approximately 733 feet short of the approach end of runway 20 at the Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI), Bloomington, Illinois. Prior to the accident, the pilot was performing a visual traffic pattern for the purpose of landing at the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted on a visual flight rules plan under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and the 3 passengers on board the airplane reported minor injuries. The local flight originated at Bloomington, Illinois, at approximately 1000.

A local controller at the BMI Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) said, "AR 75238 called inbound 7 [miles] north of the airport for VFR landing and was instructed to proceed inbound from the north and report a 2 mile right base runway 20." The local controller said that the pilot reported right base and was asked if he had the airplane in front of him in sight? "I observed AR 238 on an approximately 1.5 mile final and appeared to be on a normal approach when I looked to check my other traffic." The controller said, "Shortly after, I heard an ELT (emergency locator transmitter) signal on VHF Guard frequency (121.5) and turned to verify." The controller said that he and another ATCT controller observed the airplane had crashed off the approach end of runway 20.

In his statement to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot said he was flying a visual approach to the runway. Everything was normal until short final when the airplane began a descent that resulted in the collision with the ground, short of the runway. The pilot said he didn't know why the accident occurred, but thought that a downdraft might have forced the aircraft towards the ground. The pilot said that he added power to arrest the descent, but it happened very rapidly. The pilot also said that he did not have a current medical certificate, as it had been removed by the FAA due to a change in his health since its issuance.

A FAA inspector examined the airplane at the accident scene. The airplane was resting upright in the field north and west of the approach end of runway 20. An initial impact ground scar was located 733 feet from the end of the runway. The airplane's nose gear was broken aft and found embedded in the airplane's tail. Both main landing gear were broken aft. They preceded the airplane main wreckage by 140 feet. The main wreckage was 227 feet from the initial ground scar. The airplane's cowling and forward fuselage was crushed aft. The firewall, engine, and engine mounts were bent downward. The bottom of the airplane was bent and buckled. The propeller showed torsional bending and chordwise scratches. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies.

At 1115, the weather at BMI was reported as clear skies, 10 miles visibility, winds 220 degrees at 15 knots, and an altimeter setting of 30.11 inches of Mercury.

FAA records showed the pilot was denied a medical certificate on October 25, 1999.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the visual approach for landing.