# NTSB CHI91FA212: Centrair Pegasus 101B, N126CC, Hinckley, IL, July 7, 1991 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 7, 1991, 15:01 local (20:01 UTC) - Place: Hinckley, IL - Coordinates: 41.759273, -88.639549 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7593&lon=-88.6395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report December 14, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 14908 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91FA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14908/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91FA212 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) 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. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Hard landing, descent - emergency - spoiler extension - performed, pilot in command - proper descent rate - exceeded, pilot in command - terrain condition - crop - touchdown - abrupt, pilot in command - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - radio communications - inattentive, pilot in command - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N126CC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N126CC-2015-04-24), registration cancelled 2015-04-24, S/N 101B0254, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CENTRAIR PEGASUS 101B (PEGASUS 10) - Registry model: [Centrair 101B](https://openairdocs.org/model/centrair-101b) (registry code 1990103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 101BO254 - Airframe hours: 441 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N1954E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1954E-2013-01-31), registration cancelled 2013-01-31, S/N 1855, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SLINGSBY KESTREL 19 - Registry model: [Slingsby T59D KESTREL 19](https://openairdocs.org/model/slingsby-t59d-kestrel-19) (registry code 8321510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [NONE](https://openairdocs.org/engine/none) (registry code 00000, none) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 1855 - Airframe hours: 1006 - Engines: unknown - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Zulu Hotel, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 29, 1990, 108 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N126CC; age 58; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N1954E; age 54; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19910707026162A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910707026162A), Jul 7, 1991: Cntrar 101ACENTR, Hinckley, IL, Substantial damage. Turning low right final was struck from above and near by glider N1954E that used high fast left traffic pattern. - [Accident 19910707026161A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910707026161A), Jul 7, 1991: Slnsby T59D, Hinckley, IL, Destroyed. Turning left final,overtook from above glider,N126CC,that had turned final from right pattern. Neither saw other. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.