Sc Iar SA Brasov IAR 825 accident near Peru, Illinois, July 15, 2012
On July 15, 2012 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Sc Iar SA Brasov IAR 825, registered N825BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Peru, Illinois (Illinois Valley Regional Arpt 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 pilot's improper fuel management, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 15, 2012 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Peru, Illinois · Illinois Valley Regional Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Sc Iar SA Brasov IAR 825
- Registration
- N825BA · registry record · serial 01
- 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 the airplane was topped off with fuel before departing on the cross-country flight. He stated that after flying for about two hours the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while in the traffic pattern at the intended destination. He subsequently made a forced landing into a nearby cornfield because the airplane did not have sufficient altitude to glide to the runway. A postaccident examination revealed that the left wing fuel tank was void of any usable fuel. About 14 gallons of fuel were recovered from the right wing fuel tank during the disassembly and recovery of the wreckage. The supply line to the engine fuel control unit was void of any fuel. The fuel tank selector valve was positioned to draw fuel from both wing tanks. The engine started and ran uneventfully during a brief postaccident operational test run. Additional testing established that the fuel tank selector valve yielded equivalent flow rates in all positions. Although the fuel tank selector valve was found in the setting to draw fuel from both wing tanks following the accident, the loss of engine power was likely due to fuel starvation while operating with the selector valve positioned to the empty left wing tank.
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
- Fuel starvation during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel selector/shutoff valve › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 24,700 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 22,100 as pilot in command; 1,300 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 22, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 622 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,307 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Walter M601D (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJVY Sellersburg IN at 3:15 pm
- Destination: KVYS Peru IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,999 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KVYS, 1 miles away
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.
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.