Piper J5A accident near Brussels, Illinois, May 17, 2001
On May 17, 2001, a Piper J5A, registered N38646, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brussels, 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 partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the high vegitation encountered during the precautionary landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2001
- Place
- Brussels, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper J5A · all J5As on the register
- Registration
- N38646 · registry record · serial 5-1031
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over during a precautionary landing. The pilot reported he was practicing a simulated emergency landing approach. He reported he had pulled out the carburetor heat during the simulated emergency landing and cleared the engine during the approach. He terminated the maneuver at 300 feet above ground level (agl). When he advanced the throttle there was no response for a "short period of time, then a halting or missing response." He reported the engine made a "hesitating acceleration." The airplane was about 200 feet agl and he made a decision to land and check the fuel and engine. The airplane touched down at 65 mph. He reported the vegetation was much taller than he perceived, and the airplane decelerated rapidly and nosed over. The engine was examined and exhibited no preexisting anomalies. The engine was tested and it ran between idle power and 2,600 rpm's.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,234 hours in all; 129 in this make and model; 3,620 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 31, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,456 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2000; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A-75-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3SQ St Charles MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from STL, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.