N276U

On May 10, 2002, at 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA 28-181, N276U, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage during the landing roll when the aircraft and an automobile collided on runway 26 (2,988 feet by 50 feet, dry/asphalt) at Woodlake Landing Airport (IS65), Sandwich, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot and the one passenger reported no injuries. No ground injuries were reported either. The flight had departed Lake in the Hills (3CK), Lake in the Hills, Illinois at 0830 central daylight time.

According to the pilot's written statement, upon reaching Woodlake Landing Airport he entered the left pattern for runway 26. The pilot reported he was approximately three to four minutes behind bonanza traffic, also landing on runway 26. The pilot stated that the approach and landing were uneventful until he noticed an automobile about one-third of the way down the runway moving from left to right. According to the pilot, the automobile was moving slowly, but steadily, and began to cross the active runway. The pilot reported, "I applied full braking and steered right to try to avoid hitting the car - even then the car failed to stop or slow down". The pilot reported that at approximately 800 feet down the runway the airplane and the car collided.

The Sandwich Police Department reported that the automobile attempted to drive across the runway when the aircraft was landing. The aircraft locked the brakes upon landing to keep from hitting the car and skidded approximately 230 feet before striking the vehicle. The driver of the automobile reported that he did not see the aircraft because of the sun and had recently had cataract surgery. The driver was aware he was not to drive across the runway.