Morris Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morris, Illinois 60450
Wednesday, May 25, 2005 13:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff roll when the pilot's seat moved aft causing a loss of control. The pilot reported that he executed several full stop landings prior to the accident. He stated that during the accident takeoff, approximately 55 miles-per-hour (mph), the pilot seat slid "all the way back on [the] seat rail." He reported that he was restrained by the seat belt and shoulder harness and unable to reach the flight or engine controls. The pilot reported the airplane yawed to the left, departing the runway pavement and striking a runway light. He stated the airplane subsequently came back onto the runway before a side load on the main landing gear caused it to collapse. A post-accident inspection of the seat tracks and seat locking components revealed no anomalies. The seat tracks did not appear worn or distorted. The pilot seat locked properly in each position when operated after the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Malfunction of the pilot seat positioning mechanism for undetermined reasons resulting in a loss of aircraft control. The runway light struck when the airplane departed the pavement was a contributing factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/25/2005
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1345
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Morris
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60450
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412532N
Event Location Longitude 0882507W
Event Location Airport Morris Municipal
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C09
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 584
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1345 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID C09
Elevation of weather observation facility 584
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 140
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KC09 251845Z AUTO 14005KT 10SM CLR 20/04 A30
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18209
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 25 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-DuPage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3875K
NTSB Number CHI05CA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Temco
Aircraft Model GC-1B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 3575
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Brian R. Lemke
Aircraft Owner Street Address 717 Fairlane Drive
Aircraft Owner City Joliet
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60435
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Brian R. Lemke
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 717 Fairlane Drive
Operator City Joliet
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60435
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 C09
Departure City Morris
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1345
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code JOT
Destination City Joliet
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 21 2005 5:36PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --