Globe GC-1B accident near Metropolis, Illinois, July 23, 1989
On July 23, 1989 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Globe GC-1B, registered N332HM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Metropolis, Illinois (Metropolis 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
PILOT'S FAILURE TO ADHERE TO PROCEDURES AND ENSURE THE AIRCRAFT HAD SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED BEFORE ATTEMPTING ROTATION AND CLIMBOUT. AIRSPEED WAS INADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN FLIGHT, AND JUST AFTER THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED THE AIRCRAFT SETTLEDTO THE GROUND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1989 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Metropolis, Illinois · Metropolis · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Globe GC-1B · all GC-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N332HM · no longer on the register · serial 1213
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF ON A SOUTHBOUND RUNWAY, WITH A 5 TO 10 KNOT LEFT CROSSWIND, THE PILOT ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO LIFT OFF PREMATURELY. ONE WITNESS STATED THAT THE LIFT-OFF WAS ABRUPT, AND ESTIMATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT NEVER CLIMBED ABOVE 6 TO 8 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. BOTH WITNESS AND PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT, AND AS SOON AS THE LANDING GEAR WAS RETRACTED, THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED TO THE GROUND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TWO RUNWAY LIGHTS AS IT STRUCK THE GROUND.
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: 1,400 hours in all; 153 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,311 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1989; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,710 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-300-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M30 Metropolis IL at 7:30 pm
- Destination: NONE Belleville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from PAH, 8 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.