# Accident 19990728010039A: Frchld 24C8C, Lafayette, IL, July 28, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 28, 1999, 15:00 local time - Place: Lafayette, IL - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 41.1005° N, 89.9693° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1005&lon=-89.9693&mi=10 - Aircraft: N15345, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N15345) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Fairchild 24 C8C (registry code 3370208, https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-24-c8c) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Warner SS40&50 (registry code 64503, https://openairdocs.org/engine/warner-ss40-50) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FRCHLD 24C8C - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 0 - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI99LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA275) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990728010039A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. DEPARTED OTSO TO OSHKOSH, ENGINE FAILED, DAMAGED ACFT IN LANDING. (.19) ON JULY 28, 1999, AT 1500 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A FAIRCHILD 24 C8C, N15345, PILOTED BY AN AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, NEAR LA FAYETTE, ILLINOIS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 AND WAS NOT ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED HANNIBAL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, HANNIBAL, MISSOURI, AT 1340 AND WAS EN ROUTE TO DACY AIRPORT, HARVARD, ILLINOIS, AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT, DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, AT 3,000 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL (MSL), HE NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ENGINE OIL ON THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AFTER NOTICING THE OIL THE ENGINE'S RPM BEGAN TO DROP CONTINUOUSLY. THE PILOT DECIDED TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT THE KEWANEE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT, KEWANEE, ILLINOIS, WHICH WAS 15 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE NORTHEAST OF HIS POSITION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES AF TER HE FIRST NOTICED THE OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN INTERMEDIATELY, AT A LOW RPM, AND DESCRIBED THE ENGINE'S OPERATION AS "GRINDING". THE PILOT STATED THAT THE HE POSITIONED THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE WIND, ALONG ILLINOIS STATE HIGHWAY 17, AND EXECUTED THE FORCED LANDING ONTO THE STATE HIGHWAY. DURING TOUCHDOWN AND ROLLOUT THE MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND SUBSEQUENT FUSELAGE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED. (-23)ON JULY 28, 1999, AT APPROXIMATELY 3:OO PM. WHILE ENROUTE FROM HANNIBAL, MO, TO OSHKOSH, WI, THE PILOT NOTICED OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD AND SHORTLY AFTER, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. A LANDING WAS MADE ON ILLINOIS HIGHWAY 17, ONE MILE EAST OF LAFAYETTE, IL. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED UPON TOUCHDOWN DUE TO A HIGH SINK RATE. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER WERE NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR AND LOWER FUSELAGE. THE CARBURETER BROKE FROM THE ENGINE CASE WHICH RESULTED IN A SMALL FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WITH DIRT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CHI99LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA275), Jul 28, 1999: Fairchild 24 C8C (N15345), La Fayette, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to obtain/maintain the proper descent rate. A factor to the accident was the partial loss of engine power as a result of the exhaust valve keeper becoming unlocked, which jammed… From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.