Ryan NAVION A accident near Kankakee, Illinois, June 8, 1991
On June 8, 1991 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Ryan NAVION A, registered N4374K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kankakee, 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'S POOR IN FLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION MAKING AND MISJUDGED FUEL SUPPLY. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE INADEQUATE EMERGENCY PROCEDURE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1991 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Kankakee, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ryan NAVION A · all NAVION As on the register
- Registration
- N4374K · registry record · serial 1374
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE WAS WITHIN 10 MILES OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PILOT MADE A HARD FORCED LANDING IN A CORNFIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE MAIN FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF (40 GALLONS) WHEN THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED. HIS FLIGHT PLANNING INDICATED THE TRIP WOULD TAKE 2 1/3 HOURS, AND HIS ESTIMATED FUEL FLOW WAS 13.1 GALLONS PER HOUR. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 2 1/4 HOURS AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PILOT NOTED THAT THE FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE WAS INDICATING LOWER THAN HE EXPECTED DURING THE FLIGHT, BUT HE CONTINUED TOWARD HIS DESTINATION, JUDGING HIS AVAILABLE FUEL BY THE DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE'S FUEL SYSTEM WAS SUCH THAT THE MAIN FUEL TANKS COULD APPEAR FULL BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY WERE, AND MISLEAD REFUELLERS.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 125 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,665 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 22, 1990; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-470-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TVC Traverse City MI at 7:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N4374K the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.