Temco GC-1B accident near Waukegan, Illinois, November 8, 2020
On November 8, 2020 at about 8:18 pm local time, a 1948 Temco GC-1B, registered N77759, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Waukegan, Illinois (Waukegan National Airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff with a crosswind that resulted in a ground loop and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 8, 2020 · about 8:18 pm local time
- Place
- Waukegan, Illinois · Waukegan National Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Temco GC-1B, built 1948 · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N77759 · registry record · serial 3531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot reported that while taking off for a personal flight in a tailwheel airplane, the airplane encountered wind from the south during the takeoff roll and weathervaned. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and ground looped. During the ground loop, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right wing struck the ground sustaining substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking the airplane off on runway 23 with the wind from 130o at 8-10 knots.
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 on ground during takeoff defining event
- Landing gear collapse during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 247 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 163 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 19, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,826.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 2020
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental C-145-2H (piston); 1,927 hours total
The flight
- Destination: Ann Arbor MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 5,999 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 2:28 pm from UGN, -19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN21LA058.