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CHI94LA078

1994-02-05 · DELAVAN, Wisconsin, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport C59

Current FAA registration · N38203

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28R-201T
Year of manufacture
1977 · 17 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER (225 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19770603
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4652C

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the pilot-in-command's not maintaining directional control and his inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were icy runway and crosswind.

Factual narrative

On February 5, 1994, at 1400 central standard time, a Piper PA- 28R-201T, N38203, registered to James T. Bator of Westmont, Illinois, and operated by a private pilot, experienced a loss of directional control on landing on runway 36 (4,400' X 80' dry/asphalt) at Delavan, Wisconsin. The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with a snowbank. The pilot and one passenger reported no injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed West Chicago, Illinois, at 1330. The pilot reported that he landed the airplane on runway 36. He stated that the winds were 260 to 280 degrees at 15 to 17 knots. He stated that the runway was icy and braking was poor. He indicated that while the airplane was on rollout the tail was pushed by the winds and the airplane ran into a snowbank. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LANDED ON RUNWAY 36 WITH WINDS FROM 260 TO 280 DEGREES AT 15 TO 17 KNOTS. HE STATED THAT THE RUNWAY WAS ICY AND BRAKING WAS POOR. ON ROLLOUT THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SNOWBANK. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1994_CHI94LA078.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.