Amateur-built AA-1C accident near Danville, Illinois, July 5, 1982
On July 5, 1982 at about 5:35 pm local time, a amateur-built AA-1C, registered N9830U, was destroyed in an accident near Danville, Illinois (Vernillion County airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1982 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Danville, Illinois · Vernillion County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AA-1C
- Registration
- N9830U · no longer on the register · serial AA1-C0138
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT AT 3000 FT, 14 NM NORTH OF THE DANVILLE VOR, THE ENGINE BEGAN VIBRATING. THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A BEAN FIELD APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NORTH OF THE DANVILLE AIRPORT. ENGINE EXAMINATION REVEALED THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW IN THE ROCKER ARM FOR THE NUMBER 4 INTAKE VALVE WORKED LOOSE PREVENTING THE VALVE FROM OPERATING.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 45 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,347 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,002 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Bowman Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Kankakee IL at 11:59 am
- Destination: Terre Haute IN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 190°F (88°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.