Amateur-built LONGEZE accident near Plainfield, Illinois, August 28, 1986
On August 28, 1986 at about 10:05 pm local time, a amateur-built LONGEZE, registered N45FC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Plainfield, Illinois (Clow Intl. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 1986 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Plainfield, Illinois · Clow Intl. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built LONGEZE
- Registration
- N45FC · registry record · serial CF-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT MADE A STEEP RIGHT BANK WHILE ENTERING THE DOWNWIND LEG ON APPROACH TO LAND WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A FIELD SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM THERE WAS A LACK OF FUEL IN THE LINES BETWEEN THE IN-LINE FUEL FILTER, ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP, ENGINE DRIVEN FUEL PUMP AND CARBURETOR. THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS PURGED OF AIR BY LOOSENING THE FUEL LINE AT THE CARBURETOR AND HAND CRANKING THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS THEN STARTED AND RAN SATISFACTORILY. THE BUILDER OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT STATED THAT IT HAD BEEN HIS EXPERIENCE THAT DURING A STEEP BANKED RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THE FUEL WILL PULL AWAY FROM THE FUEL SUMP OUTLET OF THE ENGINE, ALLOWING AIR TO ENTER THE FUEL LINES.
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: 700 hours in all; 83 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 640 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 110 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 8, 1986; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,425 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: A1Z Kaiser Lake MO at 7:45 pm
- Destination: 1C5 Plainfield IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,370 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from DPA, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI86FEE06.