# NTSB CHI87FA054: Bellanca 14-19-3A, N1253R, West Chicago, IL, December 22, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 22, 1986, 14:37 local (20:37 UTC)
- Place: West Chicago, IL
- Coordinates: 41.8796, -88.219581 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8796&lon=-88.2196&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13625
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87FA054
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13625/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87FA054

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight encounter with weather, approach
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - weather forecast - inaccurate, nws personnel (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - fog (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - icing conditions (contributing factor)
  - wing - ice (contributing factor)
  - stabilizer - ice (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, circling (ifr)
  - minimum descent altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, circling (ifr)

## Analysis

AT 0850 CST, THE PLT GOT A WX BRIEFING FOR A FLT TO THE DUPAGE ARPT. AT THAT TIME, THE CURRENT DUPAGE WX WAS IN PART: PARTIAL OBSCN, 2 MI VIS WITH FOG; ALSO, THE PLT WAS GIVEN SVRL PIREPS FOR LGT TO MOD ICING IN SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. AT 1231, HE GOT A WX UPDATE. AT THAT TIME, THE DUPAGE WX WAS IN PART: 600' OVC, 2 MI VIS WITH FOG; THE FORECAST WAS FOR THESAME WX TO CONT WITH OCNL 1000' OVC, 4 MI VIS WITH FOG, BUT NO ICING WAS EXPECTED. AFTER ARRIVING, THE PLT MADE A VOR RWY 10 APCH, THEN CIRCLED TO LND ON RWY 28. THE TWR CTLRS RPRTD THE PLT MADE THE CIRCLING MANEUVER AT 50' TO 100' AGL, ALTHO THERE WAS A RPRTD 500' CEILING & 1-1/4 MI VIS WITH FOG. MINIMUMS FOR THE APCH WERE 500' CEILING & 1 MI VIS. DRG THE BASE TO FINAL TURN, THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GND & BURNED. AFTER THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, LEADING EDGE ICE WAS FND UNDER THE UNBURNED HORIZONTAL STABILIZER & ALONG THE WRECKAGE PATH. AT THE TIME OF THE PLT'S LAST MED CERT ON 4/6/84, HERPRTD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF 2200 HRS. THE RGT FRONT SEAT PAX WAS A RATED PLT; HIS MED CERT WAS DATED 4/15/82.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1253R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1253R-1988-08-11), registration cancelled 1988-08-11, S/N 4317 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLANCA 14-19-3A
- Registry model: [Bellanca 14-19-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-14-19-3) (registry code 3080106) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4317
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470-F 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: William Olson
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 1986
- Departed: BMI, BLOOMINTON, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: DPA, Dupage, runway 28, 4,001 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,200 total, 65 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 30 °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 19861222070739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861222070739A), Dec 22, 1986: Blanca 14193A, West Chicago, IL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Aircraft struck ground, circling at a low altitude. Suspect pilot flew into unforcast icing conditions.

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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