# NTSB CHI00LA201: Witlock CIRCA-NIEUPORT 12, N317LS, Peotone, IL, July 16, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2000, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Peotone, IL - Coordinates: 41.330867, -87.790306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3309&lon=-87.7903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49719 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA201 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49719/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA201 ## Probable cause the carburetor icing conditions and the fact that the aircraft was not equipped with carburetor heat protection. A factor to the accident was the crops. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, cruise - carburetor heat control - not installed (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to a statement by the pilot, 'Departed runway 27 for general test flight. Made several circuits of the pattern. Left the pattern to climb up higher. Upon turning to return to the airport I experienced a partial loss of power. Unable to hold altitude and attempting to get back to the approach end of 27, I landed in a corn field.' Using the Midway Airport temperature of 72 degrees and a dew point of 68, the aircraft was flying in the possibility of 'serious icing' on the Icing Probability Chart. A post accident investigation found that the aircraft had no provisions for the removal of carburetor ice. The pilot indicated that he had two hours in the accident aircraft's make and model. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2000, at approximately 1200 central daylight time (CDT), an amateur built Circa-Nieuport 12, N317LS, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in a cornfield following a partial loss of engine power. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported minor injuries. The test flight had departed a private strip 15 minutes prior to the accident. According to a statement by the pilot, he, "Departed runway 27 for general test flight. Made several circuits of the pattern to climb up higher. Upon turning to return to the airport I experienced a partial loss of power. Unable to hold altitude and attempting to get back to the approach end of 27, I landed in a corn field." The aircraft wreckage was moved by the owner prior to an examination by Federal Aviation Administration inspectors. Temperature at Midway Airport, Chicago, Illinois, located approximately 39 miles to the north, was 22 degrees C, with a dew point of 17 degrees C. Using the Icing Probability Chart and the temperature and dew point, the aircraft was at risk for "serious icing". A Federal Aviation Administration inspector found that the aircraft had no provisions for the removal of carburetor ice. The pilot, on the pilot/operator accident report form, indicated that he had accrued two hours in the accident make and model. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N317LS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N317LS-2013-07-23), registration cancelled 2013-07-23, S/N 0079, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Witlock CIRCA-NIEUPORT 12 (CIRCA-NIEU) - Registry model: [Witlock Dale R NIEUPORT 12](https://openairdocs.org/model/witlock-dale-r-nieuport-12) (registry code 056067J) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Yamaha ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/yamaha-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 80000, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0079 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: Yamaha 1100 70 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Karl Henning - Registered owner: Dale Whitlock - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PVT, PEOTONE, IL - Airport: PVT, runway 27, 1,300 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; seat: rear; flight hours: 800 total, 2 in this make and model, 700 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MDW ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000716037319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000716037319A), Jul 16, 2000: Amtr NIEUPORT12, Peotone, IL, No damage. (-23) Shortly after takeoff for a test flight, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power. The aircraft couldn't climb nor maintain altitude. The a/c… 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. --- 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.