Beech 76 accident near Wheeling, Illinois, July 6, 1995
On July 6, 1995 at about 10:50 pm local time, a Beech 76, registered N60078, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois (Palwaukee airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the dual student's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions, and the CFI's inadequate supervision of the flight. A factor associated with the accident was the gusty crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1995 · about 10:50 pm local time
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · Palwaukee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech 76 · all 76s on the register
- Registration
- N60078 · registry record · serial ME-139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS REPORTED THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED ON TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY WHERE IT CONTACTED A RUNWAY LIGHT. WITNESSES STATED THE AIRPLANE WAS TOO HIGH AND FAST DURING THE LANDING APPROACH. THEY STATED THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND BOUNCED PRIOR TO VEERING OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. INSPECTION OF THE LANDING GEAR REVEALED AN OVERLOAD FAILURE. THE LANDING WAS BEING MADE ON RUNWAY 16 WITH WINDS FROM 250 DEGREES AT 12 KNOTS GUSTING TO 25 KNOTS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,370 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 1,265 as pilot in command; 665 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,445 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 16, 1995; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1G6D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,137 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 pm from PWK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.