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Accidents · NTSB CEN18LA228 · Final report

Rgj Aviation LLC JOHNSON AIR CAM accident near Greenwood, Illinois, June 16, 2018

On June 16, 2018 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Rgj Aviation LLC JOHNSON AIR CAM, registered N81047, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Greenwood, Illinois (Galt Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The pilot's decision to take off with insufficient runway available and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 16, 2018 · about 3:40 pm local time
Place
Greenwood, Illinois · Galt Field Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Rgj Aviation LLC JOHNSON AIR CAM NO SERIES
Registration
N81047 · no longer on the register · serial 79
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

After a fly-in event, the airline transport pilot was attempting a short-field takeoff from a 2,802-ft runway. The pilot added flaps to increase aircraft performance; he checked the flight controls and confirmed the flap setting before takeoff. He stated that he rarely used flaps, that the airplane does not require the use of flaps for a short takeoff roll, and that the airplane make and model had a takeoff roll of 300 ft. The pilot stated that he had about 1,400 ft of runway available and that he rotated the airplane at 50 knots. However, a witness stated the airplane back taxied only about 100 ft past the runway threshold and then turned around for what appeared to be getting ready for takeoff. A second witness stated he heard the pilot make a radio transmission that he was going to back taxi. The witness watched the airplane back taxi and very shortly after it crossed the numbers of the runway, it stopped and turned around. A few seconds later, the pilot applied full throttle, and the airplane began to roll forward. A third witness stated that the pilot attempted the takeoff with about 600 ft remaining to the end of the runway and that the airplane lifted off surprisingly quickly, perhaps 350 ft from the west edge of the runway, maybe further back. Shortly after takeoff, the right wing dropped, and the pilot experienced a loss of aileron control, which were consistent with the exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted the ground to the right of the runway and cartwheeled before coming to a stop. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot took off with insufficient runway available and exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack.

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

  1. Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
  2. Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
  3. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Capability exceeded
  • cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
  • cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot

Pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
  • Flight time: 10,700 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 8,427 as pilot in command
  • Last flight review: September 17, 2017
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: frt
  • Injury: minor injuries

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 593.3 hours
  • Last inspection: condition inspection, June 23, 2017
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine 1: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 626 hours total
  • Engine 2: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 626 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 10C Greenwood IL
  • Destination: Twin Lakes WI
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 27, 2,802 ft by 36 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
  • Observation at 3:35 pm from BUU, 17 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

4 documents, released by the NTSB on November 20, 2019. 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.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.