Schleicher KA-6-CR accident near Staunton, Illinois, June 4, 1987
On June 4, 1987 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Schleicher KA-6-CR (glider), registered N9398, was substantially damaged in an accident near Staunton, Illinois (Willhoit airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. 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
- June 4, 1987 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Staunton, Illinois · Willhoit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Schleicher KA-6-CR · all KA-6-CRs on the register
- Registration
- N9398 · no longer on the register · serial 6531
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE CLIMBED TO 6000 FEET MSL AND PROCEEDED ON COURSE TO STAUNTON, ILLINOIS. ACCORDING TO THE PLT IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 800-900 FEET ABOVE WILLHOIT AIRPORT WHEN HE MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN TO ENTER BASE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN HE SUDDENLY LOST LIFT AND THE RIGHT WING OF THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS SHORT OF RWY 27. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ACFT.
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, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 1,535 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: None NONE (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H07 Highland IL at 5:00 pm
- Destination: H07 Highland IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,950 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 13 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from STL, 62 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.