Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Worth, Illinois 60482
Wednesday, November 1, 2000 16:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted the terrain following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he performed a preflight of the airplane with the exception of verifying a chart used to keep track of the fuel on board. According to the pilot he thought there were 19 gallons of fuel on board, however, 15.2 gallons of the fuel were used on a previous flight. He reported, "...I misread that part of the calculation." Fuel exhaustion occurred about 20 minutes after takeoff while at an altitude of 1,050 feet above the ground. The pilot reported "Approximately 22 seconds later I impacted the ground with a 75' landing distance, measured using step method. A/C did not roll or tumble, but I was able to keep it upright through the impact. The speed of impact was approximately 110 mph as I had to avoid a bridge and set it down immediately." He reported on the form that the accident cold have been prevented "By thorough ground, physical, preflight. Do not use a chart, without actual in sight ck. of fuel levels."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate preflight of the airplane and his failure to verify the fuel supply on board, which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the low altitude at which the power loss occurred and the lack of suitable terrain given the low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/1/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City WORTH
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60482
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1553 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID MDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 620
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 72
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 48
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
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 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) 10796
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 1 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1806
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Oct 23 2001 10:32AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N169DM
NTSB Number CHI01LA030
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 Aviat
Aircraft Model PITTS S-2B
Aircraft Series Identifier PITTS S-2B
Aircraft Serial Number 5287
Certified Max Gross Weight 0
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 --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ALFRED R. JUDD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 22823 S. WIRTH LANE
Aircraft Owner City FRANKFORT
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60423
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 No
Departure Airport Code IKK
Departure City KANKAKEE
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1540
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 4 2001 11:25AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --