Beech 35 accident near Wheeling, Illinois, August 18, 2013
On August 18, 2013 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Beech 35, registered N779RB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Wheeling, Illinois (Chicago Executive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control due to the passenger’s inadvertent application of left rudder during the takeoff roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 18, 2013 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · Chicago Executive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 35 · all 35s on the register
- Registration
- N779RB · registry record · serial D-8244
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and two passengers planned on a local flight. The beginning of the takeoff roll was normal, with light wind down the runway. According to the pilot, when the airplane reached about 60-65 knots, the right seat passenger inadvertently pushed on the left rudder pedal. The pilot was unable to stop the turn; the airplane departed the runway surface and proceeded down a grass embankment. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the outboard section of the left wing and aileron. The pilot did not report any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abrupt maneuver during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › (general) › (general) › Passenger
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,420 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 3,380 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 7, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2013
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rbi Trading LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KPWK Wheeling IL
- Destination: KPWK Wheeling IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 10:52 am from KPWK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.