Decatur Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mt. Zion, Illinois 62549
Wednesday, April 26, 1989 21:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DEPARTED MARION WITHOUT A WX BRIEFING. PLT ADVISED DURING APPROACH THAT LAST PERSON MAKING APPROACH REPORTED MODERATE TO SEVERE TURBULENCE ON FINAL. SUBSEQUENTLY CLEARED TO LAND AND GIVEN WIND 360 AT 30 GUSTING 40. ALSO ADVISED THAT ANOTHER AIRCRAFT REPORTED A 20KT WINDSHEAR ON FINAL. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT WHEN HE HAD DESCENDED TO 1500 FEET MSL, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED STRONG TURBULENCE AND THE AIRSPEED WENT FROM STALL TO REDLINE. DESPITE ADJUSTMENT TO FLAPS AND THROTTLE, THE AIRPLANE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE PILOT'S POOR EVALUATION OF THE WEATHER INFORMATION GIVEN HIM BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/26/1989
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2140
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City MT. ZION
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62549
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport DECATUR
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DEC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 679
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 2149 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 355
Weather Observation Facility ID DEC
Elevation of weather observation facility 679
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 4
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 25
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 40
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Moderate
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1749
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 26 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2330
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 42811
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9637F
NTSB Number CHI89FA078
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA
Aircraft Model 208A
Aircraft Series Identifier 208A
Aircraft Serial Number 20800120
Certified Max Gross Weight 8035
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 Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Mar 27 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 43
Airframe Hours 742
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name CESSNA FINANCE CORPORATION
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5800 E. PAWNEE
Aircraft Owner City WICHITA
Aircraft Owner State KS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 67218
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DUPAGE AIRPORT AUTHORITY
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 32W515 W. TOWER ROAD
Operator City W. CHICAGO
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60185
Operator Code DPUA
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
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 Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MWA
Departure City MARION
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 2050
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2001 8:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 5300
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --