What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 24, 2020, N610DJ, a Walton Daniel J Sonex aircraft, was preparing to land at o?c?onnor field (8IL5) after a VFR flight that originated at vermilion regional airport (kdnv). The pilot-in-command (PIC) entered a left downwind for runway 09 between 130-140 miles per hour. During the turn from the downwind to base leg the PIC did not initially slow the aircraft by reducing the throttle setting, but did so by increasing altitude and trading airspeed for altitude. When the PIC eventually reduced the throttle setting from 2600 RPM to 2000 RPM, the engine immediately lost power. At this time the, aircraft remained in a continuous left turn and the PIC attempted two unsuccessful restarts. The PIC stated that while in the left turn, he was losing control effectiveness of his left wing and tried to compensate by turning to the right. The aircraft came to rest approximately 1 statute mile west of the airport in an open corn field at 12:40 CST.
Latest weather report from the nearest airport, greater rockford airport (krfd), was:
METAR krfd 241754Z 29014G21KT 8SM -sn SCT025 BKN036 OVC042 M09/M17 A2984
At the time of the accident, the winds were reported as 290 degrees at 14 knots, gusting to 27 knots. These winds favor runway at 8IL5. The pilot chose to land on runway 9.
Due to hospitalization of the pilot, not all information was able to be gathered for the investigation. This report will be amended at a future date when this information is received
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 24, 2020, N610DJ, A WALTON DANIEL J SONEX AIRCRAFT, WAS PREPARING TO LAND AT O?C?ONNOR FIELD (8IL5) AFTER A VFR FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED AT VERMILION REGIONAL AIRPORT (KDNV). THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) ENTERED A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 09 BETWEEN 130-140 MILES PER HOUR. DURING THE TURN FROM THE DOWNWIND TO BASE LEG THE PIC DID NOT INITIALLY SLOW THE AIRCRAFT BY REDUCING THE THROTTLE SETTING, BUT DID SO BY INCREASING ALTITUDE AND TRADING AIRSPEED FOR ALTITUDE. WHEN THE PIC EVENTUALLY REDUCED THE THROTTLE SETTING FROM 2600 RPM TO 2000 RPM, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY LOST POWER. AT THIS TIME THE, AIRCRAFT REMAINED IN A CONTINUOUS LEFT TURN AND THE PIC ATTEMPTED TWO UNSUCCESSFUL RESTARTS. THE PIC STATED THAT WHILE IN THE LEFT TURN, HE WAS LOSING CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS OF HIS LEFT WING AND TRIED TO COMPENSATE BY TURNING TO THE RIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 1 STATUTE MILE WEST OF THE AIRPORT IN AN OPEN CORN FIELD AT 12:40 CST.
LATEST WEATHER REPORT FROM THE NEAREST AIRPORT, GREATER ROCKFORD AIRPORT (KRFD), WAS:
METAR KRFD 241754Z 29014G21KT 8SM -SN SCT025 BKN036 OVC042 M09/M17 A2984
AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 290 DEGREES AT 14 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 27 KNOTS. THESE WINDS FAVOR RUNWAY AT 8IL5. THE PILOT CHOSE TO LAND ON RUNWAY 9.
DUE TO HOSPITALIZATION OF THE PILOT, NOT ALL INFORMATION WAS ABLE TO BE GATHERED FOR THE INVESTIGATION. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AT A FUTURE DATE WHEN THIS INFORMATION IS RECEIVED
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.