Amateur-built Searey accident near South Beloit, Illinois, May 24, 2005
On May 24, 2005 at about 10:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Searey, registered N60667, was destroyed in an accident near South Beloit, Illinois (Private Airstrip airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
In-flight collision with the ground for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2005 · about 10:20 pm local time
- Place
- South Beloit, Illinois · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Searey
- Registration
- N60667 · no longer on the register · serial 1MK016
- Damage
- Destroyed
- 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 and the pilot sustained fatal injuries during an in-flight collision with terrain. The owner of the airstrip reported that he knew the accident pilot and waved at him during a pass over the airstrip prior to the accident. He stated that the accident pilot had landed at his airstrip in the past and he assumed that the pilot was approaching to land at that time. He noted that he lost sight of the aircraft behind a tree line. He stated that shortly afterward he looked down the runway and saw the wreckage. He did not see the accident sequence. The accident site was located in an agricultural field approximately one-quarter mile east of the runway. A post-accident inspection did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a pre-impact failure. Flight control continuity was confirmed from each control surface to the cockpit area.
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: student
- Flight time: 150 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: 2Si 250-3F1AGD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Rockton IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from JVL, 3 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.