Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Altamont, Illinois 62411
Saturday, February 13, 1982 20:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ABOUT FIVE TO TEN MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF AT NIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED. PILOT ELECTED TO LAND IN A LIGHT COLORED AREA THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY DARKER AREAS. DURING THE APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WHICH DAMAGED THE LEFT WING AND TAIL, AND KNOCKED THE WINDSHIELD OUT. AT THIS TIME, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING. THE PILOT ADDED POWER AND THE PLANE SETTLED TO THE GROUND WHICH WAS COVERED WITH 14 INCHES OF SNOW. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE NOSE GEAR FOLDED AND THE WHEEL PANTS SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING GEAR. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE HEAT DUCT TO THE CARBURETOR AIR BOX WAS DETERIORATED TO THE EXTENT THAT HEAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FROM THE CARBURETOR. HOWEVER, THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO OTHER MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES. THE TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT WERE 21 AND 15 DEGREES, RESPECTIVELY.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/13/1982
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City ALTAMONT
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62411
Event Date Year 1982
Event Date Month 2
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
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 Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 4
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 200
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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) 346
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2002 4:04PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\ZUZL
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9447U
NTSB Number CHI82DA046
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150
Aircraft Series Identifier 150
Aircraft Serial Number 78395
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 2276
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HARRY LUTZ
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2 BOX 352
Aircraft Owner City BOLIVAR
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 65613
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID VAUGHAN
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR3
Operator City VANDALIA
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 62471
Operator Code
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code VLA
Departure City EFFINGHAM
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City VANDALIA
Destination State IL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2002 4:49PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --