Waukegan Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waukegan, Illinois 60087
Wednesday, July 31, 1996 11:28 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after the pilot of a motor-glider took off, he informed the tower that his engine cowl had come loose and he wanted to return to the airport for landing. The tower told the pilot he could land on any runway, and the pilot indicated he would land on runway 05. Subsequently, the aircraft impacted the airport infield near the intersection of runway 32 and 05. Witnesses reported the left engine cowling was flapping and making noise. The pilot flew a tight downwind for runway 32 at about 150 feet AGL, then he turned back to the west after crossing the intersection. When he came out of the turn, the altitude was about 100 feet and the wings were rocking. The motor-glider made a sharp left turn, entered a steep descent, and crashed with the left wing hitting first. Examination of the aircraft revealed flight control and engine continuity. The cylinders had compression and spark. Fuel was present. The prop hub indicated rotational scoring. The left engine cowling exhibited about a 14 inch tearing from the rear of the cowling to the front.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering to land, which resulted in an inadvertent stalled and collision with the terrain. A factor relating to the accident was: the loose engine cowling.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1128
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City WAUKEGAN
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60087
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WAUKEGAN
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UGN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 727
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1045 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID UGN
Elevation of weather observation facility 727
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1162
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1847
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N86PS
NTSB Number CHI96FA264
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Hoffman, Wolf, Flugzeugbau
Aircraft Model H-36
Aircraft Series Identifier H-36
Aircraft Serial Number 360153
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Glider
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 4 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 184
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 950 PINE ST
Aircraft Owner City GLENVIEW
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60025
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code UGN
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 32
Runway Length 3751
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --