Amateur-built M-18-X accident near Pana, Illinois, October 18, 2003
On October 18, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built M-18-X, registered N53TW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pana, Illinois (Private Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's attention was diverted to a person on the ground which resulted in his failure to maintain altitude/clearance with trees . A contributing factor to the accident were trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 18, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Pana, Illinois · Private Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built M-18-X
- Registration
- N53TW · registry record · serial 1392
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An experimental amateur-built airplane collided with trees during takeoff from a private airstrip. The pilot was waving to his brother on initial climb out when the airplane made contact with trees and impacted the terrain.
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: 449 hours in all; 449 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 2, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental 75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Pana IL at 5:37 pm
- Destination: TAZ Taylorville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 210° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from TAZ, 15 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.
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.