# NTSB CHI73FEV18: Beech D55, N7731R, Champaign, IL, December 19, 1972

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: December 19, 1972
- Place: Champaign, IL · CHAMPAIGN, IL
- Location: 40.1141° N, 88.2746° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Champaign, IL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1141&lon=-88.2746&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 31, 1973
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 163234
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI73FEV18
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI73FEV18

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3837  72/12/19   CHAMPAIGN,ILL       BEECH D55           CR-  0  0  1  NONCOMMERCIAL             PRIVATE, AGE 58, 1484
        TIME - 1814                    N7731R              PX-  0  0  1  CORP/EXEC                 TOTAL HOURS, 155 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - U.OF ILL-WILLARD
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          DETROIT,MICH                DECATOR,ILL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: CONTROLLED                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER IFR OPERATION
        REMARKS- ILS APPROACH.DESCENT BELOW MDA WITHOUT VIEW OF RWY. STRUCK GND SHORT OF RWY.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7731R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7731R), registered now, S/N TE-645, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: U.Of Ill-Willard

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.

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