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Accidents · NTSB CHI91DEV02 · Final report

Amateur-built STITS SA-3B accident near Casey, Illinois, July 18, 1991

On July 18, 1991 at about 1:05 pm local time, a amateur-built STITS SA-3B, registered N2821, was substantially damaged in an accident near Casey, Illinois (Casey Muni airport). 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

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PROPER RATE OF CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN MODEL.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
July 18, 1991 · about 1:05 pm local time · cases in 1991
Place
Casey, Illinois · Casey Muni · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built STITS SA-3B STITS SA-3
Registration
N2821 · no longer on the register · serial TO 452
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

A STUDENT PILOT PURCHASED AN INACTIVE, HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE, THREE YEARS OUT OF INSPECTION. THE OWNER TOOK THE AIRPLANE FOR A TRIAL FLIGHT WITH ANOTHER STUDENT PILOT AS PASSENGER. ON THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE SETTLED INTO A BEAN FIELD AT THE DEPARTURE END. THE OWNER REPORTED NO MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE, AND NONE WAS FOUND.

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: student
  • Flight time: 42 hours in all; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 165 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, October 7, 1987; 6 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,375 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-290G (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: 1HB Casey IL at 1:05 pm
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 36, 1,965 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Visibility: 2 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 12:45 pm from HUF, 38 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1
Passengers1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI91DEV02.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.