Temco GC-1B accident near Morris, Illinois, May 25, 2005
On May 25, 2005 at about 6:45 pm local time, a Temco GC-1B, registered N3875K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morris, Illinois (Morris Municipal 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Malfunction of the pilot seat positioning mechanism for undetermined reasons resulting in a loss of aircraft control. The runway light struck when the airplane departed the pavement was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2005 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Morris, Illinois · Morris Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Temco GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N3875K · registry record · serial 3575
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff roll when the pilot's seat moved aft causing a loss of control. The pilot reported that he executed several full stop landings prior to the accident. He stated that during the accident takeoff, approximately 55 miles-per-hour (mph), the pilot seat slid "all the way back on [the] seat rail." He reported that he was restrained by the seat belt and shoulder harness and unable to reach the flight or engine controls. The pilot reported the airplane yawed to the left, departing the runway pavement and striking a runway light. He stated the airplane subsequently came back onto the runway before a side load on the main landing gear caused it to collapse. A post-accident inspection of the seat tracks and seat locking components revealed no anomalies. The seat tracks did not appear worn or distorted. The pilot seat locked properly in each position when operated after the accident.
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: 444 hours in all; 275 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 342 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C09 Morris IL at 6:45 pm
- Destination: JOT Joliet IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from C09
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 CHI05CA134.