Amateur-built FIREBOLT accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, June 1, 1991
On June 1, 1991 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built FIREBOLT, registered N123CR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Schaumburg, Illinois (Schaumburg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT NOT FOLLOWING THE SPECIFICATION FOR INSTALLATION OF THE FUEL TANK VENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1991 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · Schaumburg
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FIREBOLT
- Registration
- N123CR · no longer on the register · serial 15
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE OWNER BUILDER OF AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED PARTIAL POWER LOSS DURING CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF ON A TEST FLIGHT AFTER COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION. THE AIRPLANE LANDED OFF AIRPORT. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO DISCREPANCY. THE SOLE DISCREPANCY FOUND ON THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS A FUEL TANK VENT CUT SQUARELY ACROSS INSTEAD OF THE KIT MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFIED FORWARD FACING ANGLE CUT.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,250 hours in all; 2 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:43 pm from DPA, 14 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.