Amateur-built II accident near Peru, Illinois, August 3, 1982
On August 3, 1982 at about 2:40 pm local time, a amateur-built II, registered N52VM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peru, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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
- August 3, 1982 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Peru, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II
- Registration
- N52VM · registry record · serial 986
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THIS WAS THE FIRST CROSS-COUNTRY IN THE AIRCRAFT THE FUEL CONSUMPTION CALCULATIONS WERE BASED ON AN ESTIMATED 4 GALLONS PER HOUR. WHEN THE PILOT REALIZED A LOW FUEL CONDITION HE DECIDED TO LAND ENROUTE. DURING THE LANDING APPROACH AT PERU, IL THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE INTO A SOYBEAN FIELD.
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: 180 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 134 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 46 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagon 2100-DSNA2583 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Sparta IL at 7:00 am
- Destination: Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.