Amateur-built A-75 accident near Marissa, Illinois, June 8, 2001
On June 8, 2001 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built A-75, registered N4558N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marissa, Illinois (Herschel Hunter airport). 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
The pilot's manuever to avoid obstructions and his failure to abort takeoff. The pilot's failure to establish adequate climb, and the transmission wire are contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 2001 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marissa, Illinois · Herschel Hunter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built A-75
- Registration
- N4558N · registry record · serial 75-8457
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged while maneuvering to avoid power lines on takeoff. The airplane propeller was changed just prior to the flight. The pilot said that the airplane was not performing as expected and he didn't think he could clear the power lines. He said that he was attempting to land in a field on the left side of the 2,100 foot long grass runway when the wing tip contacted the ground and the airplane, "flipped over on it's back." The pilot said that the engine was operating as expected and the static RPM, "seemed okay." He said the airplane performance was better prior to the propeller change.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,705 hours in all; 411 in this make and model; 4,705 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 16, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 2, 2001; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4H7 Marissa IL at 8:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from BLV, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N4558N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.