Beech V35B accident near Springfield, Illinois, December 20, 2007
On December 20, 2007 at about 9:17 pm local time, a Beech V35B, registered N17784, was destroyed in an accident near Springfield, Illinois (Abraham Lincoln Capital Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control during an instrument approach due to spatial disorientation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 20, 2007 · about 9:17 pm local time
- Place
- Springfield, Illinois · Abraham Lincoln Capital Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N17784 · no longer on the register · serial D-10007
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot departed on the cross-country flight under visual flight rules and obtained flight following from several air traffic control facilities located along the intended route of flight. While enroute, he obtained an instrument flight rules (IFR) clearance after encountering instrument conditions at 2,500 feet. The accident flight was provided radar vectors to intercept the instrument landing system (ILS) runway 4 approach for the intended destination. Radar track data showed the accident airplane passed through the localizer centerline at 2,400 feet and then it made a rapid right turn back toward the centerline. The airplane then performed a series of rapid descents and climbs, and several course reversals over a period of 75 seconds. During this time period, the pilot reported having an unspecified problem and his last communication was "I can go out now ... flying eastbound." A witness reported seeing the accident airplane flying about 20 feet above the ground before it entered a steep climb. He then heard an increase in engine noise, which was followed by a loud boom. The airplane impacted about 3.5 miles outside the locator outer marker along the localizer centerline. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the destination airport with a ground visibility of 2-1/2 miles in mist and a 500 foot overcast ceiling. Based on available information, the pilot had not recorded an instrument approach in over 6 months and his last flight review was completed more than 24 months before the accident. No additional dual flight instruction or instrument proficiency checks were uncovered during the investigation. A review of the maintenance records found no history of unresolved airworthiness issues. Examination of the recovered wreckage revealed no evidence of a pre-impact mechanical malfunction.
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: 4,075 hours in all; 3,075 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 16, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,431 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Teledyne Continental Motors IO-520-BB-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: I69 Batavia OH at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KSPI Springfield IL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:29 pm from KSPI, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.