Yakovlev YAK 52 accident near Palmyra, Illinois, May 2, 2020
On May 2, 2020 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 1996 Yakovlev YAK 52, registered N27YK, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Palmyra, Illinois (Zelmer Memorial Airpark Inc airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 2, 2020 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Palmyra, Illinois · Zelmer Memorial Airpark Inc · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev YAK 52 No Series, built 1996 · all YAK 52s on the register
- Registration
- N27YK · no longer on the register · serial 9611905
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses saw the airplane approach the airport and perform a low-altitude pass 20 to 30 ft above the runway. The airplane then pitched up, climbed about 200 feet, and entered a roll. During the roll, the airplane’s nose dropped, and the airplane descended and impacted the ground in a steep, nose-down attitude. One of the witnesses was familiar with the pilot and had seen the pilot perform similar maneuvers previously. A review of the pilot’s logbooks revealed one entry about three years before the accident flight that suggested some aerobatic training in the accident airplane; however, the extent of the pilot’s aerobatic training could not be determined. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of anomalies; however, impact damage prevented complete examination of the flight control system. Based on autopsy findings, the pilot did not appear to have any natural disease that would be a factor in this accident; however, his toxicology was positive for the anticoagulant warfarin. This medication, while non-impairing, is used to prevent complications of atrial fibrillation or prevent several cardiovascular conditions, such as heart attack and stroke, which can cause sudden incapacitation. This would be especially true for aerial maneuvers that would result in changes in gravitational forces that could trigger heart arrhythmias. The pilot’s FAA third-class medical certificate expired 10 years before this accident, and his current medical status and the reason he was taking warfarin are unknown. Given the operational findings of this accident, the pilot’s use of the medication warfarin and the possible medical conditions for which warfarin was prescribed were unlikely factors in the accident. Ethanol detected in the pilot’s vitreous fluid was likely from sources other than ingestion and did not contribute to the accident. Based on the available information, the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a loss of control during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver.
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
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Qualification/certification › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,147 hours in all; 25 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 20, 2017
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,137.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 3, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vedeneyev M14P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.26 inHg
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN20LA168.