Amateur-built G-5 accident near Kankakee, Illinois, July 4, 1982
On July 4, 1982 at about 4:50 pm local time, a amateur-built G-5 (helicopter), registered N59CG, was destroyed in an accident near Kankakee, Illinois. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
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 4, 1982 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Kankakee, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built G-5
- Registration
- N59CG · registry record · serial 12931
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLIGHT SINCE A SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE WAS ISSUED. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS UNIQUE IN THAT THE ROTOR CONTROLS WERE CABLE INSTEAD OF PUSH-PULL RODS. THE AIRCRAFT AFTER TAKEOFF STARTED PITCHING UP AND DOWN. THIS PITCHING CONTINUED ON DOWNWIND LEG. THE RUDDER, VETTICAL STABILIZER AND TIPS OF THE WOODEN PROPELLER BEGAN SEPARATING WHEN THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY CONTACTED THE PROPELLER. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER AND TUMBLED TO GROUND.
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: rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 131 hours in all; 111 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 32 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Harold Guldi VW2100C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Kankakee IL at 9:00 am
- Destination: Kankakee IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 181°F (83°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from MDW, 50 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.