# NTSB CEN26LA131: Quad City Challenger, Van Burensburg, IL, February 28, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 28, 2026, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Van Burensburg, IL
- Coordinates: 39.036393, -89.257825
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0364&lon=-89.2578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 7, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - Springfield FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202584
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202584/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA131

## Probable cause

Propeller separation due to failure of the propeller attachment bolts.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md)
- [Misc hardware: fasteners](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071430/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot/owner reported that during straight and level flight, he felt a “shudder” and heard a “thump” and the airplane’s engine over sped. He executed a forced landing to a field, but the airplane’s right main landing gear separated from the airplane. The airplane came to rest on the remaining landing gear and the right wing. Postaccident examination revealed that the airplane’s pusher propeller had separated from the engine. During the separation, the propeller struck the left wing, tearing the fabric covering and substantially damaging internal structure. The forced landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage lower longerons. Photographic evidence supplied by the pilot showed that the threaded portion of the 6 bolts that retained the propeller were still in the engine propeller hub. The propeller and the unthreaded portion of the propeller bolts were not recovered. The pilot reported that other than the propeller separation, there were no preexisting mechanical problems with the airplane. He noted that the accident could have been prevented by performing a better inspection under the propeller hub, noting that the propeller bolts are not visible during daily inspections. The airplane was not registered, and the pilot did not hold a Federal Aviation Administration issued pilot certificate. He reported that he thought the operation of the airplane was covered under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 103 – Ultralight Vehicles. 14 CFR 103 details the operation of ultralight vehicles that do not require a pilot certificate, a medical certificate, or registration of the vehicle. The vehicle requirements include an empty weight of less than 254 pounds, a fuel capacity not exceeding 5 gallons, a maximum level flight speed of 55 kts., and a stall speed of no more than 24 kts. Although the airplane was not weighed following the accident, research indicated that the accident airplane may have achieved all the requirements, except the fuel limitation. The accident airplane was equipped with a 10-gallon fuel tank. As such, the airplane should have been registered, and the pilot should have been certificated.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: QUAD CITY CHALLENGER
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: NA
- Year built: 1994
- Engines: Hirth 3202 55 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Departed: VLA, Vandalia, IL
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KTAZ, 30 nm away
- METAR: METAR KTAZ 282155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM OVC095 15/M03 A3001 RMK AO2 T01471032 PWINO=

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.

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