# NTSB CHI08LA041: Herink H R/Herink R W Challenger, N2159M, Apple River, IL, November 27, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 2007, 16:36 local (22:36 UTC) - Place: Apple River, IL - Coordinates: 42.466388, -90.169441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4664&lon=-90.1694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - DPA - NTSB case key (mKey): 67179 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67179/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA041 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the low altitude and the gusty wind conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, unknown - altitude - low, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings in the amateur-built airplane when the accident occurred. The airplane was seen north of the airport heading in a southeasterly direction prior to the accident. The airplane was approximately 80 feet above the ground and had cleared a group of trees just prior to the nose dropping. The airplane descended into an open field. A witness reported that there were occasional wind gusts in the area around the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 27, 2007, at 1636 central standard time, an amateur-built Herink Challenger II, N2159M, collided with the terrain following a loss of control near the Foster Airport (7A4), Apple River, Illinois. The private pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The local personal flight was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from 7A4, about 1600. The pilot reportedly took off from 7A4 and was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. A witness reported the pilot flew once around the traffic pattern prior to the accident. A witness reported seeing the airplane just north of the airport heading in a southeasterly direction. He stated the airplane was low, approximately 80 feet above the ground, and it barely cleared a group of trees prior to the nose dropping. The airplane then descended into the field. The witness reported that there were occasional wind gusts in the area around the time of the accident. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 70, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating, issued September 20, 1974. The pilot did not hold a current medical certificate. The pilot's family provided copies of the pilot's logbook for review. The last entry in the second of two logbooks was dated August 25, 1996. The logbook showed the pilot had a total flight time of 171.6 hours and that his last biennial flight review was on March 24, 1996. A family member of the pilot stated the pilot kept the airplane on his property, which was across the street from the 7A4. She stated he frequently flew the airplane between several farming properties in the area. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The accident airplane was an amateur-built Herink Challenger II, serial number CH20289R0392. The majority of the two-place airplane was constructed of fabric covered aluminum tubing. The nose cone, wheel pants, and center wing covering were fiberglass. The airplane was powered by a 52 horsepower, pusher mounted, Rotax 503 engine. The airplane did not have an airworthiness certificate and maintenance records were not located during the investigation. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The weather conditions reported at the Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ), Dubuque, Iowa, 23 miles west of the accident site, at 1653, were: Wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; clear skies; temperature minus 4 degrees Celsius; dew point minus 15 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.33 inches of mercury. A witness reported that there were occasional wind gusts in the area around the time of the accident. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The wreckage, located in an open field, was approximately one-quarter mile northeast of 7A4. The airplane came to rest in an upright position. The nose of the airplane, including the instrument panel, was crushed leaving the area in front of the forward seat exposed. Both wing struts collapsed and both wings folded downward around the cockpit area. The wings, engine, and cockpit area were canted to the left. The leading edge aluminum tubing on the left wing was bent rearward. The left wingtip covering was separated from the wing and found near the main wreckage. The right wing was relatively intact with little damage other than being bent downward at the wing root. Both blades on the wooded propeller were broken. The aft fuselage and empennage structure was primarily intact. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. The propeller was rotated by hand and compression was achieved on all of the engine cylinders. Fuel was present in the carburetor, fuel lines, and in the aircraft fuel tank. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy on the pilot was performed November 28, 2007, at the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office, Rockford, Illinois. The autopsy report listed the immediate cause of death as "Blunt trauma of the head, neck and chest." A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared for the pilot by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results for tests performed were negative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2159M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2159M-2013-07-11), registration cancelled 2013-07-11, S/N CH20289R0392 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HERINK H R/HERINK R W CHALLENGER - Registry model: [Herink H R/Herink R W CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/herink-h-r-herink-r-w-challenger-ii) (registry code 05676JV) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH20289R0392 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert C. Hammer - Registered owner: Sale Reported - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: Apple River, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review March 1, 1996; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 172 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: DBQ, 23 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 20071127832219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071127832219A), Nov 27, 2007: Amtr CHALLENGERII, Apple River, IL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) The two seat ultralight aircraft impacted the ground in a cultivated corn field on an easterly heading after a departure from runway 36 at Foster Field… 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.