Vandalia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Vandalia, Illinois 62471
Saturday, May 21, 2005 8:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with the terrain following a loss of control during initial climb after takeoff. A witness reported seeing the airplane takeoff on runway 36. She stated that approximately 20 seconds after taking off, the airplane entered a 90 degree left bank and disappeared below the tree line. The airplane collided with a freshly planted bean field. The impact site was approximately 3,000 feet down the length of the runway and about 500 feet west of the runway. Examination of the airframe and engine failed to reveal any failures/malfunctions which would have resulted in the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane due to undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/21/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Vandalia
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 62471
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 385929N
Event Location Longitude 0890958W
Event Location Airport Vandalia
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VLA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 825 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID 1H2
Elevation of weather observation facility 587
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 30
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 8
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19316
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 21 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 28 2006 1:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Springfield, IL FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7361Y
NTSB Number CHI05LA122
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model R182
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number R18200126
Certified Max Gross Weight 3100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 5958
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Maurice L. Tompkins
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Orlando
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32812
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code VLA
Departure City Vandalia
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 829
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GRE
Destination City Greenville
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 11 2006 7:39AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 3752
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --