Amateur-built B1-RD accident near Kankakee/Elks, Illinois, August 6, 1987
On August 6, 1987 at about 1:19 am local time, a amateur-built B1-RD, registered N44870, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kankakee/Elks, 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 6, 1987 · about 1:19 am local time
- Place
- Kankakee/Elks, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built B1-RD
- Registration
- N44870 · no longer on the register · serial 095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A TAKEOFF FROM A GOLF COURSE FAIRWAY THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE AND CRASHED. A SKETCHED DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE REVEALED ONLY 60 YARDS BETWEEN THE STARTING POINT OF THE TAKEOFF AND THE TREE. IN SPITE OF THIS, THE PLT STATED THAT HE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 50 FT ABOVE THE TREE AND STARTED A TURN TO THE RIGHT. WHEN HE TRIED TO ROLL OUT OF THE TURN, ACCORDING TO THIS STATEMENT, THE ACFT CONTINUED TO TURN. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHEN CONTINUED EFFORTS TO RECOVER FAILED HE REDUCED POWER TO IDLE AND TRIED TO HIT THE ENGINE 'KILL' SWITCH BEFORE IMPACT. THE ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES OF THE ACFT. ACCORDING TO ONE EYEWITNES STATEMENT THE ACFT WAS OPERATING NORMALLY AND APPEARED TO HAVE STALLED DURING THE CLIMBOUT.
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: 274 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 232 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 86 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1986; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 510 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cuyuna 430-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: IKK Kankakee IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.