Ultralight CHALLENGER II UNREG
20 September 1994 · Princeton, Illinois, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 20 September 1994 at about 15:00 local time, a Ultralight CHALLENGER II registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Princeton, Illinois, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Princeton, Illinois, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.3705, -89.4594
- Aircraft
- Ultralight CHALLENGER II
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Ultralight
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 103: Ultralight
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Erie → Argos
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CHI94LA350
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
INADEQUATE DIRECTIONAL STABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT (DUE TO INSTALLATION OF LEXAN COCKPIT ENCLOSURE DOORS), WHICH PRECIPITATED A LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT AT ABOUT 1100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE JOLTED, SHUDDERED, AND BEGAN TO TURN LEFT. THE BANK ANGLE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY STEEPER AND THE TURN PROGRESSIVELY TIGHTER. THE STUDENT PILOT SAID THAT IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL, HE APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER AND RIGHT AILERON, BUT THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RESPOND. THE AIRPLANE ENTERED INTO A DIVE TO THE LEFT AND IMPACTED A BEAN FIELD. THE STUDENT PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT IN THE CHALLENGER, WITHOUT THE OPTIONAL KIT DOORS, WAS TAKEN THE DAY BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HOWEVER, THE DOORS WERE INSTALLED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-28-140 | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | Koerner Aviation, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 17 Jul 1994 | Cessna 150 | Alton, Illinois, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 1994 | Remote Sensing CIRRUS VK-30 | Lk In the Hills, Illinois, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 22 Jul 1994 | Cessna 175 | Cottage Hill, Illinois, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Jul 1994 | Piper PA-22 | Harvard, Illinois, United States | Edwin D. Swart | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 1994 | Hucke Ronald L PARSON-2P | Monmouth, Illinois, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |