No fatalities

Pilot Strikes Drainage Pipe During Landing on Private Airstrip

Gillespie, IL, United States

On November 28, 2008, a CESSNA 182 Q operated by Loveless Enterprises was involved in an aviation accident near Gillespie, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to take off with a known obstacle on the runway. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot struck a drainage pipe lying across his private grass airstrip during landing after performing practice landings to avoid it; the airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot and three passengers were not injured.

Incident Overview

A pilot reported that a 6-inch drainage pipe was lying across his private airstrip at the 1,600-foot mark of the 3,800-foot grass runway. Before carrying passengers, the pilot conducted two practice landings and takeoffs to ensure he could operate safely without hitting the pipe.

Flight Details

After the second practice landing, the pilot took three passengers for a flight. The takeoff was described as fine; the pilot lifted off 200 to 300 feet before the pipe. However, during the subsequent landing, the pilot did not get the airplane stopped in time, and the airplane struck the drainage pipe.

Damage and Injuries

The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot and the three passengers were not injured.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Decision related to condition