Beech V35B accident near Rockford, Illinois, July 21, 2007
On July 21, 2007 at about 5:28 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N313W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Illinois (Chicago/Rockford Intl 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 for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a forced landing. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain (corn field) encountered during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 21, 2007 · about 5:28 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Chicago/Rockford Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N313W · registry record · serial D-10363
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot executed a forced landing following a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The airplane was part of a formation flight at the time of the initial loss of engine power. The pilot stated that about 10 minutes after takeoff, the engine "began to hesitate during large throttle excursions and faltered upon [application of] full throttle." He left the formation with the intention of returning to the departure airport. However, "the engine began making loud noises and the RPM sagged to 2,000," with the manifold pressure approximately 10 inches. He subsequently executed a forced landing to a cornfield. A post accident engine examination did not reveal any anomalies associated with a pre-impact engine failure. The engine assembly was subsequently run on a test stand for approximately 30 minutes. No anomalies were detected during the engine run.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,293 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 37 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,293 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,242 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B-EE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RFD Rockford IL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.27 inHg
- Observation at 4:54 pm from RFD
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.