Amateur-built DR107 accident near Aurora, Illinois, August 21, 2010
On August 21, 2010 at about 4:47 pm local time, a amateur-built DR107, registered N123TA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Aurora, Illinois (Aurora 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
The low cycle fatigue failure of the tail wheel spring during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2010 · about 4:47 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Illinois · Aurora 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 DR107
- Registration
- N123TA · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot aborted a landing after the tail wheel spring fractured. The pilot attempted another landing by keeping the tail off the runway surface until the airspeed decreased. When the tail contacted the runway, the airplane veered and ground looped. The left main landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the tail wheel spring revealed a low cycle fatigue fracture.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Nose/tail gear strut/axle › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,350 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 207 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 6,341 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 7, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 81.8 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, April 23, 2010; 7.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,324 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARR Aurora IL at 4:30 pm
- Destination: Aurora IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 6,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from ARR
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 N123TA 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.