Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Apple River, Illinois 61001
Tuesady, November 27, 2007 16:36 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the amateur-built airplane when the accident occurred. The airplane was seen north of the airport heading in a southeasterly direction prior to the accident. The airplane was approximately 80 feet above the ground and had cleared a group of trees just prior to the nose dropping. The airplane descended into an open field. A witness reported that there were occasional wind gusts in the area around the time of the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude and the gusty wind conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/27/2007
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1636
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Apple River
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61001
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422759N
Event Location Longitude 0901010W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1653 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 265
Weather Observation Facility ID DBQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 1076
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
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) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -5
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.33
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24671
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 27 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 18 2008 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office DuPage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2159M
NTSB Number CHI08LA041
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 HERINK H R/HERINK R W
Aircraft Model CHALLENGER
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number CH20289R0392
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name SALE REPORTED
Aircraft Owner Street Address 955 N GALENA AVE
Aircraft Owner City DIXON
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 61021
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Robert C. Hammer
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Apple River
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 61001
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure City Apple River
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1600
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Unknown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2008 1:24PM
User who most recently changed record sulp
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --