# NTSB CHI05LA125: Hurley Searey, N60667, South Beloit, IL, May 24, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 24, 2005, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: South Beloit, IL - Coordinates: 42.491943, -88.967498 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4919&lon=-88.9675&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61609 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61609/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA125 ## Probable cause In-flight collision with the ground for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, unknown - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged and the pilot sustained fatal injuries during an in-flight collision with terrain. The owner of the airstrip reported that he knew the accident pilot and waved at him during a pass over the airstrip prior to the accident. He stated that the accident pilot had landed at his airstrip in the past and he assumed that the pilot was approaching to land at that time. He noted that he lost sight of the aircraft behind a tree line. He stated that shortly afterward he looked down the runway and saw the wreckage. He did not see the accident sequence. The accident site was located in an agricultural field approximately one-quarter mile east of the runway. A post-accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure. Flight control continuity was confirmed from each control surface to the cockpit area. ## Factual narrative On May 24, 2005, about 1720 central daylight time, an amateur-built Hurley Searey, N60667, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged during an in-flight collision with terrain approximately one-quarter mile east of a private airstrip (2,000 feet by 75 feet, turf) in South Beloit, Illinois. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was reportedly based at the pilot's private airstrip near Rockton, Illinois. The owner of the private airstrip in South Beloit reported that he knew the accident pilot and waved at him during a pass over the airstrip prior to the accident. He stated that the accident pilot had landed at his airstrip in the past and he assumed that the pilot was approaching to land at that time. He noted that he lost sight the of aircraft behind a tree line. He stated that shortly afterward he looked down the runway and saw the wreckage. He did not see the accident sequence. The accident site was located in an agricultural field approximately one-quarter mile east of the runway. The aircraft came to rest inverted on a northerly heading. A post-accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure. Flight control continuity was confirmed from each control surface to the cockpit area. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records indicated that the accident pilot was issued a third-class medical certificate on July 6, 2000. The accident pilot held a expired student pilot certificate issued on April 3, 1998. The pilot reported his total flight time as 150 hours on his most recent medical certificate application. He indicated no flight time within the six months preceding the application. The pilot's flight logbook was not located. FAA aircraft records indicated that the accident pilot submitted a registration application for the accident aircraft dated June 3, 2000. According to the FAA, an application for an airworthiness certificate was never submitted nor was an airworthiness certificate ever issued for the aircraft. Aircraft maintenance logbooks were not located. Surface winds recorded by the Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS), located approximately 10 nautical miles north of the accident site, at 1745, were from 030 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. An autopsy of the pilot was performed at the Winnebago County coroner's facility in Rockford, Illinois, on May 25, 2005. The FAA Civil Aero Medical Institute toxicology report was negative for all testing performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60667](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60667-2011-06-06), registration cancelled 2011-06-06, S/N 1MK016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hurley Searey - Registry model: [Hurley Andy SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/hurley-andy-searey) (registry code 05610JW) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1MK016 - Engines: 2SI 250-3F1AGD reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PVT, Rockton, IL - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 27, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 3; toxicology performed; flight hours: 150 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: JVL, 3 nm away ## 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 20050524024509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050524024509A), May 24, 2005: Amtr SEAREY, South Beloit, IL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) It appeared as though the aircraft stalled and dove into the ground from a low altitude, striking the left sponson and wing tip first. Because of the… 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.