Christen Industries S2B accident near Alton, Illinois, August 29, 1992
On August 29, 1992 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Christen Industries S2B, registered N60468, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alton, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ACCOMPLISH REFUELING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 1992 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Alton, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries S2B
- Registration
- N60468 · registry record · serial 5172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD FLOWN FROM HIS HOME AIRPORT AT ST. CHARLES, MO. TO ALTON, IL., TO GIVE FRIENDS RIDES IN HIS RECENTLY ACQUIRED AIRPLANE. HE SAID HE DID NOT REFUEL BEFORE DEPARTING FOR HIS HOME AIRPORT, AND THE ENGINE STOPPED DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE TO A FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. NO USABLE FUEL WAS DISCOVERED ABOARD THE AIRPLANE DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION. THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MODEL AIRPLANE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 29 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 66 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1991; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: 3SZ St Charles CO. MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:15 pm from ALN, 5 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.