Douglas DC3C-S13CG accident near Waterman, Illinois, May 22, 1989
On May 22, 1989 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Douglas DC3C-S13CG, registered N47CE, was destroyed in an accident near Waterman, Illinois. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC) FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPERVISION WHILE TRAINING THE COPILOT AND ALLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO ENTER A STALL/SPIN, THEN DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION TO PROPERLY RECOVER FROM THE SPIN. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: USE OF EXCESSIVE ELEVATOR TRIM, THE PIC'S LACK OF TRAINING (IN APPROACHES TO STALLS) AND LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE/MODEL OF AIRCRAFT, AND THE COPILOT'S LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE/MODEL OF AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1989 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Waterman, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Douglas DC3C-S13CG · all DC3C-S13CGs on the register
- Registration
- N47CE · registry record · serial 13456
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 2,531 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,177 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 20, 1988; 62 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,900 lb
- Seats: 26
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2000-7M2-D5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ARR Sugar Grove IL at 3:30 pm
- Destination: ARR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:28 pm from RFD, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 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.