Amateur-built CWII accident near Moweaqua, Illinois, August 3, 1990
On August 3, 1990 at about 12:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CWII, registered N7176J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Moweaqua, Illinois (Hilvety airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED AND STALLING THE AIRPLANE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE COURSE FOR A FORCED LANDING. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO PROPERLY REINSTALL SPARK PLUG CABLES DURING SERVICING CONDUCTED PRIOR TO FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 3, 1990 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Moweaqua, Illinois · Hilvety · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CWII
- Registration
- N7176J · registry record · serial CH20989CW045
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REMOVED, CLEANED AND REINSTALLED SPARK PLUGS BEFORE FLIGHT. ABOUT 150 FEET INTO INITIAL CLIMBOUT FROM TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATES THE ENGINE LOST POWER AS IF RUNNING ON ONLY ONE OF THE TWO CYLINDERS. THE PILOT STATES HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TO THE RUNWAY AND LANDED THE AIRPLANE IN A MUSHED STALL. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED ONE SPARK PLUG CABLE DISCONNECTED. THE ENGINE PERFORMED SATISFACTORILY WHEN THE CABLE WAS RECONNECTED.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 335 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 262 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 66 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 21, 1990; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,165 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from DEC, 12 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.