# NTSB CHI05CA151: Kirby Christen Eagle, N92RK, Wheeling, IL, June 17, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 17, 2005, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Wheeling, IL - Coordinates: 42.114166, -87.90139 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1142&lon=-87.9014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Du Page FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61955/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA151 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance, which resulted in the airplane drifting during the landing flare and impacting the taxiway light. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, go-around (vfr) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - taxiway light (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane impacted a taxiway light during a go-around. The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane "caught gust of wind [and] we were moved to the right." The pilot stated that he noticed the airplane was not on the runway centerline and "decided to make a go-around, but little too late and caught a landing light." The pilot continued the go-around and made an uneventful landing. Wind data recorded at 1353 indicated the wind was 050 degrees magnetic at 10 knots. No wind gusts were reported during the hour before and after the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 17, 2005, at 1330 central daylight time, an amateur-built Kirby Christen Eagle, N92RK, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a taxiway light during a go-around from runway 06 (3,660 feet by 50 feet, dry asphalt) at the Palwaukee Municipal Airport (PWK), Wheeling, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger were not injured. The flight departed Morris Municipal Airport (C09), Morris, Illinois, at 1300. The pilot reported that during the landing flare the airplane "caught gust of wind [and] we were moved to the right." The pilot stated that he noticed the airplane was not on the runway centerline and "decided to make a go-around, but little too late and caught a landing light." The pilot continued the go-around and made an uneventful landing. Post-accident inspection of the airplane showed substantial damage to the leading edge of the lower-right wing. The damage was consistent with the lower-right wing striking a taxiway light. Fractured portions of a taxiway light were found adjacent to the runway during a post-accident examination. Wind information was collected from the weather observing station located at PWK. The wind data recorded at 1353 indicated the wind was 050 degrees magnetic at 10 knots. No wind gusts were reported during the hour before and after the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N92RK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N92RK-2010-02-22), registration cancelled 2010-02-22, S/N 0391, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kirby Christen Eagle - Registry model: [Kirby Robert A CHRISTEN EAGLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/kirby-robert-a-christen-eagle) (registry code 05658XA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0391 - Airframe hours: 360 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2004, 30 hours before - Departed: C09, Morris, IL - Destination: PWK, Wheeling, IL - Airport: PWK, Palwaukee Municipal Airport, runway 06, 3,660 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2004; seat: rear; flight hours: 180 total, 30 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PWK ## 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 20050617023899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050617023899A), Jun 17, 2005: Amtr CHRISEAGLE, Chicago/Wheelin, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was flying from morris, IL to palwaukee airport (kpwk), wheeling, IL. Upon landing on runway 6 at kpwk, aircraft struck 2 runway lights. During… 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.