Christen Industries S-2B accident near Elgin, Illinois, June 17, 1995
On June 17, 1995 at about 10:49 pm local time, a Christen Industries S-2B, registered N260RG, was destroyed in an accident near Elgin, Illinois. 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
the pilot's incapacitation due to alcohol and drugs which led to a loss of consciousness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1995 · about 10:49 pm local time
- Place
- Elgin, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Christen Industries S-2B
- Registration
- N260RG · registry record · serial 5168
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER DEPARTING AN AIRPORT FOLLOWING AN AEROBATIC DEMONSTRATION BY THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS. THE HOSPITAL'S TOXICOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED 284 MG/DL OF ALCOHOL (0.248% BAC). THE FAA'S CIVIL AEROMEDICAL INSTITUTE TOXICOLOGY REPORT SHOWED 288.000 MG/DL ETHANOL IN THE BLOOD (0.288% BAC) AND 280.000 MG/DL OF ETHANOL IN THE URINE. ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT STATED THAT THE PILOT HAD 0.100 MCG/ML DIAZEPAM (VALIUM) AND 0.114 MCG/ML NORDIAZEPAM IN THE BLOOD. DIAZEPAM AND NORDIAZEPAM ARE ANTI-ANXIETY AGENTS, MUSCLE RELAXANTS, AND ANTI-CONVULSANTS, AND ARE NOT APPROVED FOR USE WHILE FLYING.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,369 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6,262 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 330 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 4, 1995; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEI0-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 3CK Crystal Lake IL at 10:30 pm
- Destination: JOT Joliet IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:45 pm from DPA, 10 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.