Amateur-built Long-EZ accident near Sparta, Illinois, February 1, 2025
On February 1, 2025 at about 7:50 pm local time, a 1986 amateur-built Long-EZ, registered N88LE, was destroyed in an accident during taxi near Sparta, Illinois (Sparta Community Airport - Hun). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An onboard fire for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 1, 2025 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sparta, Illinois · Sparta Community Airport - Hun · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Long-EZ, built 1986
- Registration
- N88LE · no longer on the register · serial 1039WEF
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he taxied to the runway and performed an engine runup. During the runup, the pilot noticed that one of the magnetos was not operating properly, so he started to taxi back to his hangar. While taxing back to the hangar, he smelled burning wire insulation, and shortly after the engine stopped. He attempted to restart the engine three times. On the third restart attempt, he noticed that flames were coming out from the right wing near the fuel cap. He immediately exited the airplane and called the fire department. The airplane was destroyed by the fire. Due to the damage caused by the fire, an examination of the airplane components to determine the source of the fire was not possible.
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
- Fire/smoke (non-impact) during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft structures › (general) › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 385 hours in all; 259 in this make and model; 385 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 26, 2023
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,018 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 1, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L2C (piston); 1,018 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 100 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KSAR
Weather report (METAR): KSAR 011955Z AUTO 14009KT 4SM HZ SCT001 08/02 A3022 RMK AO2 T00820022
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident airplane on fire
Photograph 2 – Accident airplane
Photograph 3 – Accident airplane
Photograph 4 – Accident airplaneThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 20, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
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.