- Date
- July 7, 1991, 15:01 local (20:01 UTC)
- Place
- Hinckley, IL
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 14, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19910707026162A19910707026161A
- Case key
- 14908
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 of both pilots to maintain adequate visual lookout and ensure adequate separation during traffic pattern operations. A related factor is the non-standard uncontrolled airport procedures used by N126CC.
The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual lookout and ensure adequate separation during traffic pattern operations. A related factor is the nonstandard uncontrolled airport procedures used by N126CC.
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 glider pilot returned to the uncontrolled airport and entered a standard (left-hand turns) traffic pattern for the active runway. He stated he broadcast his position and intentions on the common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot reported he was established on final approach for 5 to 10 seconds before he heard a 'sawing-scrunch like one might imagine of fiberglass on fiberglass.' Witnesses reported this glider was overtaking a slower, lower glider as it descended toward the runway. Both gliders impacted terrain in a bean field about 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the runway. The pilot stated he never saw the other glider, and neither pilot heard the other's radio transmissions. The pilot of the lower glider had entered the traffic pattern using non-standard (right-hand) turns.
The glider pilot reported he returned to the uncontrolled airport with insufficient altitude to conduct a standard (left-hand turns) traffic pattern. He entered a right downwind and made several transmissions regarding his position and intentions on a common traffic advisory frequency. The pilot was established on final approach about 1/2 mile from the end of the runway when he saw 'a glider...overflying me and descending into my flight path.' The gliders collided. The pilot of the lower glider 'deployed spoilers in an attempt to descend as rapidly as possible below the other glider's flight path. I maintained control to the ground although my descent rate was very high.' Both gliders impacted terrain in a bean field about 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the runway.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N126CC
- Reported as
- Centrair Pegasus 101B (PEGASUS 10)
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 101BO254
- Airframe hours
- 441
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Shatzeu, Albert
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 13, 1991 · 26 hours before
- Airport
- runway 27
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
- N1954E
- Reported as
- Slingsby Kestrel 19
- Category
- Glider
- Serial number
- 1855
- Airframe hours
- 1,006
- Engine
- unknown
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Zulu Hotel, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 29, 1990 · 108 hours before
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 N126CC
- Age
- 58
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 1,579 total · 1,572 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 23 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N1954E
- Age
- 54
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 527 total · 242 in this make and model · 498 as pilot in command · 84 in the last 90 days · 47 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 93 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.