CHI03FA202

The airplane was destroyed on impact with wires and terrain following a loss of control during initial climbout from runway 29. A post impact fire occurred. A witness saw the airplane take off and climb at a steep angle in what he described as a "short field takeoff." He said that the tail of the airplane dropped and the nose pitched upward into a "steep angle of attack." He said the airplane was in a "spin" in a nose down attitude. Locally recorded wind was 040 degrees at 9 knots. Engine and flight control continuity were established. No pre-impact anomalies were detected during an on-scene investigation.

History of flight

On July 8, 2003, about 1324 central daylight time, a Cessna 150L, N10257, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed on impact with terrain about one quarter mile west of the departure end of runway 29 (3,800 feet by 100 feet, concrete) at Schaumburg Regional Airport (06C), near Schaumburg, Illinois. A post impact fire occurred. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot was fatally injured. The local flight was originating from 06C at the time of the accident.

A witness, who was a flight instructor, stated that he saw the airplane take off and climb at a steep angle in what he described as a "short field takeoff." He said that the tail of the airplane dropped and the nose pitched upward into a "steep angle of attack." He said that he lost sight of the airplane behind some trees. He regained sight of the airplane. He said the airplane was in a "spin" in a nose down attitude. He stated that he heard the engine running.

The Cook County Sheriff's Police report contained a witness statement that said that the airplane turned toward the south at a steep pitch angle. That witness stated that the plane made a quick half turn and headed toward the ground. He lost sight of the airplane and then saw white smoke that turned to black smoke.

A Metra commuter train signal maintainer who was working in the area and heard the airplane impact the ground, stated:

I ran to the plane to assist whoever was inside. I attempted to wake up the pilot

but could not remove him due to his safety harness. There was a fire on the left

side of the plane: I went to the right side of the plane and attempted to release the

safety harness. The heat and flames became too intense and I had to move away

from the plane.

The Metra railroad reported a loss of signal control wire continuity at 1324.

Other damage

Three, 10-gauge, signal control wires were found broken and laying on the ground southwest of the accident site.

Personnel information

The pilot held a private pilot certificate for single engine land airplanes. The pilot's logbook was not recovered. He reported 300 hours of total flight experience on his most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate, which was issued on December 27, 2002. He reported that he accumulated 90 hours of flight time in the six months prior to that application.

Aircraft information

N10257, a 1973-model Cessna 150L, serial number 15074826, was a high wing, propeller-driven, fixed landing gear, semi-monocoque design, two seat airplane. The airplane was powered by a four cylinder, air cooled, horizontally opposed, normally aspirated, 100 horsepower, serial number 72KADM-A-48, Continental O-200-A engine. The airplane was equipped with a McCauley, 2-blade, all-metal, fixed pitch propeller, model number 1A102/OCM6948, serial number K79272. The airplane's maintenance logbooks were not located.

Meteorological information

At 1353, the Dupage Airport, near West Chicago, Illinois, recorded weather was: Wind 040 degrees at 9 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition broken 4,000 feet above ground level (AGL); temperature 24 degrees C; dew point 18 degrees C; altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury.

At 1356, the Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, recorded weather was: Wind variable at 4 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition few 2,700 feet AGL broken 25,000 feet AGL; temperature 25 degrees C; dew point 18 degrees C; altimeter 30.00 inches of mercury.

Airport information

06C was located approximately 22 miles northwest of the center of Schaumburg, Illinois. The East Central US Region Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) indicated the field elevation was 801 feet. 06C is a non-towered airport with one runway, 11/29. The A/FD stated that runway 11/29 was 3,800 feet long and 100 feet wide. The runway surface was composed of concrete. Metra railroad train tracks run east-west near the south boundary of the airport. Trees are listed as obstructions for both ends of the runway.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplane came to rest off-airport, about one quarter mile west of the airport, and north of Metra railroad train tracks at 41 degrees 59.382'N latitude and 88 degrees 06.655'W longitude. A ground scar was found about 40 feet from the wreckage. A piece of red translucent media was found below a bush north of this ground scar. The magnetic heading from the ground scar to the wreckage was 60 degrees. The fuselage and empennage heading was 360 degrees. The wreckage was examined on-scene and subsequently moved to a hangar. Flight control continuity was established. Engine control continuity was established. All cylinders produced a thumb compression when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. Both magnetos produced a spark when the crankshaft was rotated by hand. About 12 gallons of a liquid that smelled like gasoline were recovered from the airplane. About three and a half quarts of oil were found in the engine's sump. No pre-impact anomalies were detected.

Medical and pathological information

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute prepared a Final Forensic Toxicology Accident Report. The report was negative for all tests performed.

Fire

A post impact fire occurred. The cabin area of the fuselage was found consumed by fire. The Roselle Fire Department reported that they used handlines and dry chemical extinguishers to suppress the fire.

Additional information

The parties to the investigation included the FAA, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Teledyne Continental Motors.

The aircraft wreckage was released to a representative of 06C.