Cessna 182A accident near Sparta, Illinois, February 25, 1989
On February 25, 1989 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 182A, registered N4717D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sparta, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
POOR AND IMPROPER MAINTENANCE WHICH RESULTED IN THE CARBURETOR VENTURI BEING BLOCKED BY THE DUCT TAPE. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE SOFT TERRAIN ON WHICH THE FORCED LANDING WAS MADE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1989 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Sparta, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182A · all 182As on the register
- Registration
- N4717D · no longer on the register · serial 34817
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS BEING USED FOR SPORT PARACHUTE ACTIVITY WHEN ENGINE FAILED DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB OF A JUMP SORTIE. THE PIC INSTRUCTED HIS FOUR SKYDIVER PASSENGERS TO ASSUME A CRASH POSITION AND ACCOMPLISHED AN OFF AIRPORT LANDING IN A SOFT FIELD. DURING THE LANDING ROLL THE NOSE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A PIECE OF DUCT TAPE OBSTRUCTING THE CARBURETOR VENTURI RESTRICTING AIRFLOW TO THE ENGINE.
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: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 232 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 140 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1988; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 14,400 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:55 pm from BLV, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N4717D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.