# NTSB CHI93DEV01: Walter D. Courtney Courtney TWO, N78WC, Canton, IL, August 8, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: August 8, 1993, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Canton, IL - Coordinates: 40.559734, -90.039138 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5597&lon=-90.0391&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 2, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 15572 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93DEV01 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15572/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93DEV01 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during final approach to landing. ## Analysis THE EXPERIMENTAL, AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND WHEN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MAKE AN ABRUPT RIGHT TURN JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO FLY A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STRUCK A TREE AND A FENCE. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCOVERED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 8, 1993, Mr. Walter D. Courtney departed Canton Ingersoll Airport, Canton, Illinois, on a pleasure flight under 14 CFR Part 91. His son, Mr. David Courtney, was a passenger (in the aft seat) for this flight. The aircraft was a Walter D. Courtney, N78WC, serial number 1648. Model Courtney Two is an experimental, amateur built aircraft, registered to and built by Mr. Walter D. Courtney. At 1710 central daylight time, N78WC was on approach to land on Runway 18 at Canton Ingersoll Airport. Witnesses observed that just prior to touchdown, the aircraft made a very abrupt right turn, flying a few feet above ground, in a westward direction. The aircraft hit a tree causing it to turn inverted and impact the ground. The aircraft slid approximately thirty feet until it came to rest in a cyclone fence. The pilot received fatal injuries and the passenger sustained minor head injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. INJURIES TO PERSONS The pilot-in-command, Walter D. Courtney, received fatal injuries. His son, who was the passenger occupying the aft seat, received minor injuries. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT The aircraft received substantial damage in the accident. No fire or explosion occurred. The left wing, canopy, and propeller were destroyed. OTHER DAMAGE The aircraft struck a tree, which it tore down, and it impacted a cyclone fence. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Mr. Walter D. Courtney, the pilot-in-command, held a Commercial Pilot Certificate with airplane single and multiengine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a Flight Instructor Certificate, airplane single engine rating and repairman certificates for the following experimental aircraft: Make-Courtney, Walter D. Model-Courtney Two (Vari-EZE) Serial Number-1648 Certification Date-08/28/80 Make-Owen One Model-Teenie Two Serial Number-510037 Certification Date-06/10/75 AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The aircraft, a Walter D. Courtney, N78WC, serial number 1648, is an experimental aircraft built by Mr. Walter D. Courtney. The Airworthiness Certificate was issued January 30, 1979. The kit name, Vari-EZE, was a single reciprocating engine, with a seating capacity of two. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION Mr. Walter D. Courtney received fatal injuries. The autopsy report revealed that the actual cause of death was Traumatic Asphyxia due to, or as a consequence of, the airplane crash. Toxicology was also performed with negative results. The autopsy was conducted by the Fulton County, Illinois, Physician, Sharon I. Schnittker, M.D. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - tree(s) - object - fence ## Aircraft - Registration: [N78WC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N78WC-2018-01-24), registration cancelled 2018-01-24, S/N 1648, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WALTER D. COURTNEY COURTNEY TWO (COURTNEY T) - Registry model: [Courtney Walter D COURTNEY TWO](https://openairdocs.org/model/courtney-walter-d-courtney-two) (registry code 05655S4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1648 - Airframe hours: 279 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Walter D. Courtney - Registered owner: Walter D. Courtney - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1993, 2 hours before - Airport: CTK, Canton Ingersoll, runway 18, 3,900 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,100 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PIA, 18 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 19930808028159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930808028159A), Aug 8, 1993: Amtrru VARIEZE, Canton, IL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On landing flare made abrupt right turn into tree and cyclone fence. Cause of abrupt manuever unknown. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.