Sky Soaring Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hampshire, Illinois 60140
Tuesady, August 5, 1997 13:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was landing after towing and releasing a glider. The wind was from 020 degrees at 7 knots. The pilot said, 'I landed to the west, runway 27, on the Sky Soaring [airport] grass strip and was slowing down to a speed at which the rudder had lost effectiveness. The airplane started a slight ground loop toward the right (north), which I corrected by use of the left heel brake. But, the airplane was still headed 15 to 20 degrees right of the runway centerline, toward a glider tied down on the north side of the field. I stepped on both heel brakes to stop the forward movement, and the airplane nosed over and ended on its back.' Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The pilot had only about 7 hours in this make and model of airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, and his excessive use of brakes, which resulted in a nose over. Factors relating to the accident were: the crosswind condition, and the pilot's lack of experience in the make and model of airplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/5/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1355
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City HAMPSHIRE
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60140
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKY SOARING
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 55LL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 270
Airport Elevation 889
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 268
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 5 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1430
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5066X
NTSB Number CHI97LA247
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Champion
Aircraft Model 7KCAB
Aircraft Series Identifier 7KCAB
Aircraft Serial Number 149
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
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 Jul 4 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 21
Airframe Hours 2224
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name NORTHERN IL SOARING ASSN. INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 11112
Aircraft Owner City ROCKFORD
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61126
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 20 & GETTY ROAD
Operator City HAMPSHIRE
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60140
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
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Landing
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 27
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --