Taylorcraft BL-65 accident near Rock Falls, Illinois, August 18, 1982
On August 18, 1982 at about 4:35 pm local time, a Taylorcraft BL-65, registered N29660, was destroyed in an accident near Rock Falls, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- August 18, 1982 · about 4:35 pm local time
- Place
- Rock Falls, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Taylorcraft BL-65 · all BL-65s on the register
- Registration
- N29660 · no longer on the register · serial 2500
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PERFORMING AEROBATICS AND CRASHED OUT OF CONTROL. GAS TANK CAP HAD COME OFF AND DURING INVERTED FLIGHT FUEL SPILLED OUT AND IGNITED.
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: 445 hours in all; 318 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 380 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,636 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,420 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-145-B2 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SQI Rock Falls IL at 11:20 am
- Destination: SQI Rock Falls IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 180°F (82°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from RFD, 39 miles away
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.