Thacker Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chenoa, Illinois 61726
Saturday, July 21, 2001 16:05 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain following an in-flight loss of engine power during initial climbout. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. A witness stated, "Took of[f] to south. Normal acceleration. ... In left turn sounded like engine lost power. (no backfire)" Another witness stated, "Looked north when t[he] plane engine cut out. Plane low, heading south east, turning easterly w[ith] slight climb or level flying." The day prior, the airplane was fueled with 58.3 gallons of 100LL. The local wind was 190 degrees at 07 knots. The propeller was found attached to the engine. Both propeller blades exhibited aft bending. Flight control continuity was established. Control continuity was established to the engine. The fuel selector was found damaged and indicating a position between left and right tanks. Fuel was found in the right tip tank, in the fuel selector valve, in the fuel line to the engine driven fuel pump, in the engine driven fuel pump, and in the carburetor's accelerator pump cylinder. The electric fuel pump was observed pumping a liquid when electric power was applied. The engine driven fuel pump was disassembled and no anomalies were exhibited. The fuel selector valve was disassembled and its internal valve components were found positioned between tanks. The engine was test run up to full power with the original carburetor and magnetoes. No anomalies were noted during the test run. Observations of surrounding farmland revealed suitable landing areas for a forced landing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadvertent stall the pilot encountered during his turn with an in-flight loss of engine power due to fuel starvation on initial climbout and the improper in-flight decision he made to continue the turn. Factors were the fuel starvation and the incorrect fuel tank selector position.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/21/2001
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1605
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Chenoa
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61726
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404256N
Event Location Longitude 0884550W
Event Location Airport THACKER
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 11LL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 135
Airport Elevation 720
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1555 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 205
Weather Observation Facility ID BMI
Elevation of weather observation facility 871
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 24
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KBMI 212055Z 19007KT 5SM HZ SCT020 BKN025 31/24 A2
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13142
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jul 21 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2253
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 18 2003 4:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Springfield, IL, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N27AP
NTSB Number CHI01FA233
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-32-260
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 32-7300013
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
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 6
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 12 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3907
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Airtex Products Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 259 Lower Morrisville Road
Aircraft Owner City Fallsington
Aircraft Owner State PA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19054
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 11LL
Departure City Chenoa
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1605
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code OSH
Destination City OSHKOSH
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Feb 21 2003 4:00PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2250
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --