Quad City Aircraft CHALLENGER II SPECIA accident near Ottawa, Illinois, July 13, 1993
On July 13, 1993, a Quad City Aircraft CHALLENGER II SPECIA, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N415JR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ottawa, Illinois. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE. FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT INCLUDE AN OIL FOULED SPARK PLUG AND A POWER GROUND CABLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1993
- Place
- Ottawa, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Quad City Aircraft CHALLENGER II SPECIA CHALLENGER, amateur-built
- Registration
- N415JR · no longer on the register · serial CW0418
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES NORTH OF OTTAWA AIRPORT, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE DROPPED TO PARTIAL POWER. THE PILOT ELECTED TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING ON AN EAST-WEST BITUMINOUS SURFACED ROAD. DURING LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A POWER GROUND CABLE WHICH SNAPPED AND PULLED THE PLANE TO THE SOUTH DITCH OF THE ROADWAY. INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE FOUND THE FRONT SPARK PLUG OIL FOULED, CAUSING PARTIAL POWER LOSS. THE SPARK PLUG WAS CLEANED OF OIL AND THE ENGINE WAS TEST RUN IN THE AIRCRAFT WITH NO FURTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS NOTED.
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: 120 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.