Amateur-built GLASAIR III T accident near Lynwood, Illinois, May 7, 2010
On May 7, 2010 at about 10:25 pm local time, a amateur-built GLASAIR III T, registered N713MJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Lynwood, Illinois (Lansing Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the pilot's failure to follow the pre-landing checklist and verifying the position of the fuel selector.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2010 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Lynwood, Illinois · Lansing Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built GLASAIR III T
- Registration
- N713MJ · no longer on the register · serial 2425
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he lost engine power while on base leg of the landing pattern and performed an off-airport landing on a farm field. The airplane sustained substantial damage when it touched down on the field's soft dirt. The airplane's kit manufacturer's "suggested pre-landing check list" included, "Fuel boost pump on. Check fuel quantity. Select proper tank. Verify that handle engages detent. ... NOTE We recommend completing the pre-landing check list before entering the pattern so that the pilots attention can be directed outside the airplane to clear for traffic while in the pattern." The pilot's accident report did not list any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane reference the accident flight. The pilot's safety recommendation stated, "Recommend that pilot check fuel tank selection and fuel content at start of each phase of flight."
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
- Miscellaneous/other during approach defining event
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Soft › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 793 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 708 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 92.5 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 22, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rolls Royce B17-250 C20 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IGQ Lansing IL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: IGQ Lansing IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.62 inHg
- Observation at 10:22 pm from IGQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
Other NTSB records under N713MJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.