Boeing B75N1 accident near Marseilles, Illinois, September 5, 1990
On September 5, 1990 at about 10:15 pm local time, a Boeing B75N1, registered N62438, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marseilles, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK TO AVOID COLLISION WITH A WIRE WHILE CONDUCTING INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 1990 · about 10:15 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Marseilles, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Boeing B75N1 · all B75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N62438 · no longer on the register · serial 75-6757
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE CONDUCTING INTENTIONAL LOW LEVEL FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A WIRE STRIKE. WITH THE WIRE ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT, IT DESCENDED INTO A RIVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND HIS PASSENGER REPORTED MINOR INJURIES. THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE FLIGHT. THE PASSENGER REPORTED THAT HE WAS READING A CHART AT THE TIME OF COLLISION AND DID NOT SEE THE WIRE.
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: 938 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 855 as pilot in command; 83 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C09 Morris IL at 9:30 pm
- Destination: GB6 Galesburg IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from ARR, 32 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.
Other NTSB records under N62438 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N62438: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Boeing B75 Stearman Kaydet 257 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Boeing 6,677 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Continental W-670A 986 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Morris Muni/James R Washburn Field · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,069 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N62438 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI90LA256.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.