Amateur-built REBEL 300 accident near Wonderlake, Illinois, April 23, 1994
On April 23, 1994 at about 3:35 pm local time, a amateur-built REBEL 300, registered N12MV, was destroyed in an accident near Wonderlake, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FATIGUE AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE MAIN WING SPAR RESULTING FROM THE DESIGNER'S EXCESSIVE, UNVERIFIED ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE SPAR CAP MATERIAL AND THE MANUFACTURER'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE SPECIFIED STRENGTH DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1994 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Wonderlake, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built REBEL 300
- Registration
- N12MV · registry record · serial S-89-0022
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness to the accident, who was a professional pilot and an aerobatic judge certified by the International Aerobatic Club (IAC), stated the flight originated as a practice aerobatic session. He reported that the right wing folded while the airplane was positively loaded to 6 to 7 G's. Investigation revealed the main wing spar upper cap strip failed in fatigue. Tests disclosed that the strength of the composite carbon fiber material was significantly lower than the design specification due to high porosity, excessive fiber waviness, and low fiber volume.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,170 hours in all; 1,170 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 12, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 1,737 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from RFD, 34 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.