Crisman Flightstar IISC accident near Malta, Illinois, July 24, 2009
On July 24, 2009, a Crisman Flightstar IISC, registered N5008E, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (climb to cruise) near Malta, Illinois (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to the separation of the flywheel, resulting in a high-cycle fatigue fracture of the crankshaft following takeoff, which resulted in a forced landing on an agricultural field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2009
- Place
- Malta, Illinois · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Crisman Flightstar IISC
- Registration
- N5008E · no longer on the register · serial 315
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental light sport airplane experienced a total loss of engine power after takeoff. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a corn field. Examination of the airplane revealed that the crankshaft had fractured near the engine flywheel due to the separation of the flywheel. The separated flywheel precluded further rotation of the crankshaft. Metallurgical examination of the flywheel separation revealed a high-cycle fatigue fracture of the crankshaft.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute (climb to cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (climb to cruise)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 152 in this make and model
- Last flight review: August 16, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 315 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 2704 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Malta IL
- Destination: Malta IL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.