Beech V35B accident near Momence, Illinois, November 18, 1989
On November 18, 1989 at about 1:30 am local time, a Beech V35B, registered N1809W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Momence, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
GRADUAL TOTAL FAILURE OF THE POWERPLANT DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY OPERATION, AND THE SUBSEQUENT GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING ON A FROZEN FIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 18, 1989 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Momence, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech V35B · all V35Bs on the register
- Registration
- N1809W · no longer on the register · serial D-9422
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN NIGHT VFR CONDITIONS, OPERATING ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN ROUGH AND THE PILOT NOTICED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. COCKPIT TROUBLESHOOTING PROCEDURES AND ATC'S ATTEMPTS TO VECTOR THE AIRCRAFT TO AN ALTERNATE AIRPORT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE ENGINE FAILED COMPLETELY, AND THE PILOT MADE A NIGHT, GEAR-UP FORCED LANDING IN A PLOWED CORN FIELD. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED OIL STREAKED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE, FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO THE TAIL SECTION. ENGINE INSPECTION/TEARDOWN REVEALED A HOLE IN THE CRANKCASE AT THE #3 CYLINDER, A HOLE IN THE #2 CYLINDER PISTON AT THE PISTON RINGS, AND VIRTUALLY NO USABLE OIL REMAINING IN THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF METAL DEBRIS THROUGHOUT THE OIL SYSTEM, AND THE SIGNS OF OVERHEATING DUE TO OIL EXHAUSTION.
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: 559 hours in all; 239 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 474 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,100 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 24, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-520-BA (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AGL Pittsburg PA at 10:30 pm
- Destination: BNW Boone IA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 am from MDW, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.