Amateur-built Cozy MkIV accident near Quincy, Illinois, August 22, 2003
On August 22, 2003 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Cozy MkIV, registered N96PJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Quincy, Illinois (Quincy Muni Baldwin Field). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2003 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Quincy, Illinois · Quincy Muni Baldwin Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Cozy MkIV
- Registration
- N96PJ · registry record · serial 0203
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during a hard landing. The pilot reported he was at the downwind-base corner of the traffic pattern when he initiated a power-off approach. He stated the descent rate was quite steep, estimating it as 30 degrees relative to the terrain. As the aircraft approached touchdown, the pilot noted that it slowed faster than anticipated. He stated: "I pulled back on the stick to come [in] at [a smaller] angle and the plane did not respond." The aircraft subsequently hit nose first, breaking the nose wheel. The pilot indicated there were no failures or malfunctions with the aircraft prior to the accident. In addition, he stated that the aircraft performed normally during his previous flights in the aircraft.
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: 3,000 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 27, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 583 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 1, 2003; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,050 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DPA West Chicago IL at 1:00 pm
- Destination: UIN Quincy IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 7,098 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from UIN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Other NTSB records under N96PJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 CHI03LA209.