- Date
- July 7, 1991, 08:20 local (13:20 UTC)
- Place
- Quincy, IL
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 1 minor
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 13, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19910707026291A19910707026292A
- Case key
- 14906
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure by the pilot of the other airplane to maintain clearance. Factors in the accident were the pilot's attempt to fly formation, his inadequate group briefing, and the lack of experience on the part of the pilot of the other airplane.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance and failure to maintain aircraft control after collision. Factors in the accident were the pilot's attempt to fly formation, and inadequate group briefing by the pilot of the other airplane, and the pilot's lack of experience.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilots of four airplanes took off in close interval for a formation cross-country flight. The lead and second airplanes steadied at cruise heading, altitude and speed, while the third airplane joined from behind and below. As it closed distance on the leader, the third airplane arrived under and rose into lead's right wing and fuselage.
The pilots of four airplanes took off in close interval for a formation cross-country flight. The lead and second airplanes steadied at cruise heading, altitude and speed, while the third airplane joined from behind and below. As it closed distance on the leader, the third airplane arrived under and rose into lead's right wing and fuselage.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N8498W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-2746
- Airframe hours
- 1,177
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Raymond D. Buehrle
- Registered owner
- Raymond D. Buehrle
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 7, 1991 · 19 hours before
- Destination
- 3SZ · St. Charles, MO
- Airport
- UIN · Muni. Baldwin Field, runway 22, 7,097 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N4349J
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-2749
- Airframe hours
- 2,200
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Ernest L. Sturgeon
- Registered owner
- Ernest L. Sturgeon
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 18, 1990 · 174 hours before
- Destination
- 1HO · St. Charles, MO
- Airport
- UIN · Muni. Baldwin Field, runway 22, 7,097 × 150 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N8498W
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 73 total · 21 in this make and model · 39 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 9 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N4349J
- Age
- 70
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 3,935 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 3,900 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 13 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- UIN, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.