Casualties unknown

Pilot Reports Flotation and Runway Excursion During Night Touch and Go's (N8309L)

Grayslake, IL, US

On May 13, 1997, a Piper PA-28-181 (registration N8309L) operated by Cardinal Aircraft Service was involved in an aviation accident near Grayslake, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's misjudgment of the aircraft's speed and runway distance available. Factors were an off-field ditch and a tailwind condition. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards

During night touch and go's, a pilot experienced a prolonged float on landing, causing the aircraft to depart the runway onto a taxiway and subsequently into a canal.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported an incident during a series of night touch-and-go landings. On the fourth landing, the pilot flared the aircraft and it 'floated' for an extended period. As the end of the runway approached, the airplane departed the runway onto a taxiway.

Pilot's Account

The pilot stated, "I tried to turn into the taxiway at the runway's end, but was going too fast to make the turn." The aircraft then exited the taxiway, coming to rest in a 'nose down' attitude in a small canal off the end of the runway and taxiway.

Post-Incident Observations

After exiting the airplane, the pilot reported noticing a strong wind directly from the east and observed the windsock standing out with a bend of approximately 45 degrees.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X07871. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.