# Accident 20010721016909A: Amtr KELLYD, Poplargrove, IL, July 21, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2001, 12:45 local time
- Place: Poplargrove, IL
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.3601° N, 88.8195° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3601&lon=-88.8195&mi=10
- Aircraft: N303SM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N303SM-2017-03-21) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Smith Glenn W KELLY "D" BIPLANE (registry code 0560548, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-glenn-w-kelly-d-biplane) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR KELLYD
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI01FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01FA232) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721016909A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON JULY 21, 2001, AT 1245 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL SMITH KELLY D BIPLANE, N303SM, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT EXPERIENCED AN IN-FLIGHT SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT UPPER WING AND IMPACTED TERRAIN ABOUT .5 MILE NORTH OF THE POPLAR GROVE AIRPORT (C77), POPLAR GROVE, ILLINOIS. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES.  THE 14 CFR PART 91 PLEASURE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED C77 AT 1230 ON A LOCAL FLIGHT.  THE AIRPLANE WAS OBSERVED DOING AEROBATIC TYPE MANEUVERS PRIOR TO THE IN-FLIGHT BREAK-UP.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.              (-23) ON JULY 21, 2001 N303SM, A GLENN W. SMITH, MODEL KELLY D BIPLANE, EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND.  THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT AND SINGLE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE LOWER ROD END OF THE RIGHT WING FORWARD INTERWING STRUT WHICH ATTACHED TO THE "I" STUT FAILED. THE UPPER END OF THE "I" STRUT THEN FAILED AT THE WELDED AREA. THE TOP RIGHT WING DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE WING WAS FOUND APPROXIMATELY .3 MILES FROM THE IMPACT SITE. NO FIRE.  NOTHING FOLLOWS.

## 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 CHI01FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01FA232), Jul 21, 2001: Smith Kelly-D (N303SM), Poplar Grove, IL, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The right upper wing failed due to overload. A factor was the pilot performing aerobatic manuevers.

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.

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