Piper PA-12 accident near Roscoe, Illinois, October 7, 1991
On October 7, 1991 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Piper PA-12, registered N2499M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Roscoe, Illinois. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
OPERATION OF AN AIRCRAFT WITH KNOWN DEFICIENCIES AND DETERIORATION/FAILURE OF THE MAGNETO(S). FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION AND NON-COMPLIANCE WITH AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE (AD).
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 1991 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Roscoe, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-12 · all PA-12s on the register
- Registration
- N2499M · registry record · serial 12-1566
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND WAS ATTEMPTING A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING WHEN ENGINE QUIT TOTALLY. PILOT MADE FORCED LANDING IN CORN FIELD AND NOSED OVER DURING LANDING ROLL. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT PILOT WAS FERRYING AIRCRAFT FOR OWNER WHO HAD JUST PURCHASED IT. NO LOG BOOKS COULD BE FOUND. IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHEN LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION HAD BEEN PERFORMED. ENGINE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THAT THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS DETERIORATED, AND WOULD SHORT OUT AND FAIL WHEN IT WAS BROUGHT UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. MAGNETO AD ISSUED IN 1973 HAD NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH. THERE WAS NO RECORD OF ANY FERRY PERMIT REQUESTED.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,845 hours in all; 250 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,750 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-C1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6IL0 Genoa IL at 8:20 pm
- Destination: 47C Boscobel WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from RFD, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.