What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On August 10, 2002 at approx. 1300 CST, the appropriately rated pilot and one passenger departed aurora, IL (arr) enroute to Mt. Hawley, IL (3MY). Cruising at 4500-5000 feet altitude, the pilot initiated a descent into Mt. Hawley utilizing the autopilot nose down function. After about five minutes the auto pilot control panel became hot and the pilot reported smelling smoke. The pilot initiated a gear up emergency landing in a bean field 3 miles NE of Lacon, IL. The aircraft came to rest in a cornfield, the pilot and passenger exited the aircraft with no sustained injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the lower nose structure, both wing leading edges, and the horizontal stabilizer.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON AUGUST 10, 2002 AT APPROX. 1300 CST, THE APPROPRIATELY RATED PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER DEPARTED AURORA, IL (ARR) ENROUTE TO MT. HAWLEY, IL (3MY). CRUISING AT 4500-5000 FEET ALTITUDE, THE PILOT INITIATED A DESCENT INTO MT. HAWLEY UTILIZING THE AUTOPILOT NOSE DOWN FUNCTION. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES THE AUTO PILOT CONTROL PANEL BECAME HOT AND THE PILOT REPORTED SMELLING SMOKE. THE PILOT INITIATED A GEAR UP EMERGENCY LANDING IN A BEAN FIELD 3 MILES NE OF LACON, IL. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A CORNFIELD, THE PILOT AND PASSENGER EXITED THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LOWER NOSE STRUCTURE, BOTH WING LEADING EDGES, AND THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N3UF · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.