Extra Flugzeugbau EA200 accident near Sugar Grove, Illinois, August 23, 2003
On August 23, 2003 at about 10:40 pm local time, a Extra Flugzeugbau EA200, registered N9PB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sugar Grove, Illinois (Aurora Muni 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
A loss of engine power due to the pilot's inadvertent deactivation of the magnetos, and the pilot's selection of the wrong runway for the forced landing. Factors were the low altitude and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 2003 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sugar Grove, Illinois · Aurora Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Extra Flugzeugbau EA200
- Registration
- N9PB · registry record · serial 26
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerobatic competition, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power, and was damaged during the ensuing forced landing. The pilot departed the competitor's zone and attempted to land on the active runway even though the opposite direction runway would have been closer. After switching fuel tanks in an unsuccessful attempt to regain engine power, the pilot prepared for the forced landing. The airplane impacted the ground 30-50 feet off the approach end of the runway. The airplane's propeller and wing were damaged and the landing gear collapsed. The magneto switch was found in the off position. The pilot had no recollection of having turned the switch to the off position. The pilot escaped with no injuries.
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: 962 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 866 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 11, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AE10-360-AIE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ARR Sugar Grove IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,501 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from ARR
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.