# NTSB CHI87FA009: Cessna 441, N241FW, West Chicago, IL, October 23, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 23, 1986, 08:51 local (13:51 UTC)
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.880073, -88.219413 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8801&lon=-88.2194&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13616
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA009
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13616/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA009

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - judgment - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - impairment(alcohol), pilot in command (cause)
  - ifr procedure - initiated
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - climb - delayed
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - descent - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)
  - psychological condition, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT (A PART TIME EMPLOYEE OF THE OWNER) WAS FERRYING THE ACFT FOR MAINTENANCE. WITNESSES, WHO SAW THE PLT BFR TAKE- OFF, NOTED THAT HIS SPEECH WAS SLURRED & THAT HE SEEMED ANGRY BECAUSE A TUG WOULD NOT START. ONE WITNESS CHARACTERIZED HIM AS BEING 'VERY MAD' & SAID HIS FACE WAS 'FLUSHED RED.' THE ACFT WAS OBSERVED TO TAKEOFF IN A HI NOSE-UP ATTITUDE & CLIMB ABOUT 500 TO 1000 FT BFR TURNING TO THE SW & LEVELING. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE PLANE TURNED BACK TOWARD THE ARPT, THEN IT CRASHED & BURNED APRX 1-1/2 MI SSW OF THE ARPT WHILE ON A HDG OF NE. IMPACT OCCURRED WHILE THE ACFT WAS DSCNDG IN A SLIGHTLY LEFT WING LOW ATTITUDE. THE WRECKAGE WAS SCATTERED OVER AN AREA THAT WAS APRX 600 FT LONG & ABOUT 45 FT WIDE AT THE WIDEST POINT. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENGS WERE OPERATING NORMALLY WHEN THE ACFT CRASHED. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEM WAS FND. A TOXICOLOGY CHECK OF THE PLT'S LIVER TISSUE FLUID SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LVL OF 0.226%.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N241FW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N241FW-1988-08-09), registration cancelled 1988-08-09, S/N 4410241 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 441
- Registry model: [Cessna 441](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-441) (registry code 2076020) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 441-0241
- Airframe hours: 1615
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE 331-8-403 635 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Registered owner: Osg Tap & Dies Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DPA
- Destination: CGF, CLEVELAND, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DPA, Dupage, runway 28, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,200 total, 9,790 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DPA, 1 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 19861023049959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861023049959A), Oct 23, 1986: Cessna 441, Chicago/West Ch, IL, Destroyed. Nose high takeoff followed by a turn and dive into the ground. Indicates pilot lost control from stress and alcohol

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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