Amateur-built T-18 accident near Schaumburg, Illinois, June 13, 1992
On June 13, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built T-18, registered N4PV, was destroyed in an accident near Schaumburg, Illinois (Schaumburg Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SHORTING OF CONDENSERS ON BOTH MAGNETOS. A FACTOR WAS INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE SERVICING OF THE AIRPLANE BY OTHER MAINTNEANCE PERSONNEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Schaumburg, Illinois · Schaumburg Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-18
- Registration
- N4PV · no longer on the register · serial 495
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM TAKEOFF, AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SWAMP. BOTH MAGNETOS FAILED FUNCTIONAL TEST. ON DISASSEMBLY, BOTH MAGNETOS EXHIBITED BURNED POINTS, PITTED ROTORS, SHORTED CONDENSERS AND OTHER DISCREPANCIES.
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: 166 hours in all; 166 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 166 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 450 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 10, 1992; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 06C at 6:55 pm
- Destination: 06C
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ORD, 8 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.