Schumacher CHALLENGER II accident near St. Joesph, Illinois, June 21, 2014
On June 21, 2014, a 2004 Schumacher CHALLENGER II, registered N441MS, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near St. Joesph, Illinois. 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 total loss of engine power due to a lack of lubrication following the in-flight failure of the mechanical oil injection pump. Contributing to the accident was the temporary obscuration of the pilot's forward visibility due to sun glare during the forced landing, which resulted in a collision with power lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 21, 2014
- Place
- St. Joesph, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schumacher CHALLENGER II, built 2004
- Registration
- N441MS · registry record · serial CH2-1200-CW-2039
- 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, during cruise flight about 1,200 ft mean sea level, the engine experienced a sudden and total loss of power. He was unsuccessful in reestablishing engine power and selected a nearby soybean field for a forced landing. The pilot stated that, as he maneuvered the airplane toward the field, the setting sun temporarily obstructed his forward visibility. The airplane subsequently collided with power lines and then entered an aerodynamic stall and impacted terrain. A postaccident engine examination revealed scoring and a lack of proper oil lubrication of the forward cylinder piston adjacent to the intake and exhaust ports. The rear cylinder piston did not exhibit scoring; however, evidence of oil starvation was observed. Further examination of the oil system revealed that the mechanical oil injection pump had seized within its housing. Additionally, the oil pump nylon drive-coupling had fractured. The oil pump was a nonserviceable component that prevented further disassembly. The pilot reported that the experimental engine was not originally equipped with a mechanical oil injection pump and that he had the engine modified with the oil pump about 50 hours before the accident. The total loss of engine power during the accident flight was due to a cylinder seizure, which resulted from a lack of lubrication following the failure of the mechanical oil injection pump.
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 (cruise)
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 924 hours in all; 585 in this make and model
- Last flight review: July 21, 2012
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 430 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 2, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (piston); 435 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Sidney IL
- Destination: PVT Sidney IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on December 4, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Engine Inspection Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Email Correspondence Concerning Additional Engine Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N441MS 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.