Amateur-built Acro Sport I accident near Carbondale, Illinois, August 7, 2002
On August 7, 2002 at about 8:33 pm local time, a amateur-built Acro Sport I, registered N65701, was substantially damaged in an accident near Carbondale, Illinois (Southern Illinois airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The unsuitable landing area selected by the pilot and his lack of total experience in the accident airplane. The gusting winds were a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2002 · about 8:33 pm local time
- Place
- Carbondale, Illinois · Southern Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Acro Sport I
- Registration
- N65701 · no longer on the register · serial DG-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The experimental homebuilt airplane was substantially damaged during landing on a grass area adjacent to a hard surface runway. The pilot attempted two landing attempts on the hard surface runway before attempting his first landing on the grass area, which the pilot described as being rough and having ruts. The pilot accumulated a total flight time of two hours in the accident airplane prior to the accident. The pilot's medical and biennial flight review were expired.
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: 6,000 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2002; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LL39 Macomb IL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: MDH Carbondale/Murp IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:33 pm from MDH
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.
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.