Amateur-built DH-82A accident near Elmore, Illinois, August 17, 1985
On August 17, 1985 at about 5:12 pm local time, a amateur-built DH-82A, registered N510AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elmore, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. 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 17, 1985 · about 5:12 pm local time
- Place
- Elmore, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DH-82A
- Registration
- N510AB · registry record · serial DE253
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ON A X-COUNTRY FLT, THE ENG LOST POWER & THE PROP CONTINUED TO WINDMILL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CRASHED DURING AN EMERG LANDING. DURING THE CRASH LANDING, THE PLT'S SHOULDER HARNESS FAILED AT THE UPPER ATTACHMENT POINT & HE RECEIVED HEAD & BACK INJURIES. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THAT THE 2ND & AFT EXHAUST VALVES WERE STICKING.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,050 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 23,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,407 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1985; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,825 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bristol GYPSY MAJ 1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5C2 Blakesburg IA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: C75 Lacon IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 135° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 4:50 pm from PIA
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.