# NTSB CHI07CA275: Weaver, David A Pulsar 912XP, N912GR, Plato Center, IL, August 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 21, 2007, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Plato Center, IL - Coordinates: 42.01472, -88.462501 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0147&lon=-88.4625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66823/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA275 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. Factors were the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft and pilot's failure to maintain altitude. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - distance/altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The pilot allowed the approach speed to deteriorate during landing, causing an unrecoverable loss in altitude. The pilot made an off-field landing into a corn field. ## Factual narrative The pilot was flying his homebuilt aircraft on its first flight. The pilot received a weather briefing approximately seven hours prior to the accident. He reported the preflight, takeoff and climb out were normal, but he "observed unusual turbulence" when he began a left turn to fly the traffic pattern. The pilot noticed that the engine oil temperature was nearing maximum and the oil pressure was fluctuating. The pilot aborted the first landing approach due to too fast of an airspeed. The pilot reported "I lowered the angle of final approach (no flaps) while attempting to maintain 80MPH. Less than .25 miles from touchdown, I attempted recover from pitching upward by reducing power (approx. 50 feet above corn field]. I had over-corrected on power reduction. There was no stall. The airplane had slowed and abruptly settled into the corn. My last control input...was to try pitching the nose as high as possible. " The pilot stated that the airplane settled to the ground in a slightly nose down attitude. The pilot reported the landing gear had extensive damage, the leading edge of the wings outboard of the fuel tanks and wing control surfaces were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N912GR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N912GR-2019-04-23), registration cancelled 2019-04-23, S/N 329, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weaver, David A Pulsar 912XP - Registry model: [Weaver David A PULSAR - 912XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/weaver-david-a-pulsar-912xp) (registry code 05618BO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 329 - Airframe hours: 0.5 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: David A. Weaver - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 1, 2007, 0 hours before - Departed: LL53, Plato Center, IL - Destination: LL53, Plato Center, IL - Airport: LL53, Plato Center Airport, runway 24, 2,400 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 97 total, 1 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20070821826619I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070821826619I), Aug 21, 2007: Amtr PULSARXP, Plato Center, IL, Minor damage. (-23) The pilot departed Olson field, (LL53) for the first test flight of his homebuilt/experimental aircraft. His first attempt at a landing was aborted due… ## Other investigations on N912GR (1) 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. - [NTSB GAA18CA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA069), Dec 2, 2017: Weaver David A Pulsar 912XP (N912GR), Plato Center, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to continue to land without visual reference to the airport in low light conditions. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inability to activate the private airport’s… 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.