Kewanee Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kewanee, Illinois 61443
Monday, November 23, 2009 17:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that on the inbound flight he had to divert to an alternate airport due to adverse weather at his intended destination. After picking up a passenger he departed the alternate airport to the east and the airplane crashed into a farm field about 0.5 miles south of the airport on a westerly heading. The pilot reported that the sky was clear and visibility was 3 to 4 miles. Weather reports for nearby airports listed visibilities between 3 and 5 miles. The flight was initiated and the accident occurred at night. The pilot's most recent night flight was more than 2 years before the accident flight. The recent flight experience requirements of 14 Code of Federal Regulations 61.57 state that, in order to act as pilot in command of an aircraft carrying passengers during night flight, the pilot must have made at least three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop during the period beginning 1 hour after sunset and ending 1 hour before sunrise. Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed no preimpact defects with regard to the airplane, its engine, or control system.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's decision to initiate a visual night flight without recent night flight experience and his failure to maintain altitude during departure.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/23/2009
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Kewanee
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61443
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 411140N
Event Location Longitude 0895737w
Event Location Airport Kewanee Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EZI
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 --
Airport Elevation 858
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1725 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID GBG
Elevation of weather observation facility 764
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 27
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.05
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 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27513
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 21 2010 3:47PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1986M
NTSB Number CEN10FA057
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 182P
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18264515
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2735
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MIDDLETON HAROLD D
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2 BOX 123
Aircraft Owner City DOWNING
Aircraft Owner State MO
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 63536-9535
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name MIDDLETON HAROLD D
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address RR 2 BOX 123
Operator City DOWNING
Operator State MO
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 63536-9535
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 EZI
Departure City Kewanee
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 03D
Destination City Memphis
Destination State MO
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 23 2010 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record broda
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 09
Runway Length 4500
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --