Maule M-5 and Aviat PITTS S2R accident near Belvidere, Illinois, September 10, 1995
On September 10, 1995 at about 4:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Maule M-5 (N5669P) and Aviat PITTS S2R (N79DG), were involved in the same accident near Belvidere, Illinois (Belvidere LTD airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in failure of each pilot to see-and-avoid the other airplane.
inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in failure of each pilot to see-and-avoid the other airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 10, 1995 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Belvidere, Illinois · Belvidere LTD · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Maule M-5 · all M-5s on the register
- Registration
- N5669P · registry record · serial 8091C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Aviat PITTS S2R
- Registration
- N79DG · registry record · serial 2184
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Maule M-5 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MAULE M-5 PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER PERFORMING A COMPLETE ENGINE RUN-UP AND COCKPIT CHECK, HE TAXIED THE AIRPLANE IN PREPARATION FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE STOPPED THE AIRPLANE ON AN AREA BETWEEN THE TAXIWAY AND RUNWAY TO CHECK FOR LANDING TRAFFIC. SEEING SEVERAL AIRPLANES, THE PILOT WAITED FOR TWO ARRIVALS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE TAXIED HIS AIRPLANE ONTO THE RUNWAY, AFTER THESE AIRPLANES LANDED AND CLEARED THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD NOT SEEN ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC BEFORE POSITIONING HIS AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE WAS IMPACTED BY A PITTS S2R, WHICH WAS LANDING ON THE SAME RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT BEFORE EACH TAKEOFF HE NORMALLY PERFORMED SEVERAL 360 DEGREE TURNS IN HIS TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE AS A PRECAUTION TO CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, BUT HE HAD NOT ON THIS DAY.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Aviat PITTS S2R final · quoted from the NTSB record
A PITTS S2R PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW TWO OTHER AIRPLANES IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN DURING HIS ARRIVAL AT HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. ONE WAS ON A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 09 AND THE OTHER WAS IN THE PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 12. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ENTERED THE PATTERN BEHIND THE TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 09 AND MADE A RADIO TRANSMISSION ON THE AIRPORT'S UNICOM FREQUENCY TO ANNOUNCE HIS POSITION OF DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 09. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO FOLLOW HIS TRAFFIC AND OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE LAND AS HE WAS ON A LEFT BASE. THE PILOT MADE A POSITION CALL WHILE ON THE BASE LEG. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE SECOND ORIGINAL TRAFFIC LAND ON RUNWAY 12 AS HE TURNED THE AIRPLANE ONTO FINAL APPROACH. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ANNOUNCED HIS FINAL APPROACH OVER THE UNICOM AND ENTERED A LEFT SLIP AS HE WATCHED TO MAKE SURE HIS TRAFFIC WAS CLEARING THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT AS HE TRANSITIONED THE AIRPLANE INTO ITS FLARE FOR TOUCHDOWN, HE HEARD A RADIO CALL ANNOUNCING THAT ANOTHER AIRPLANE (A MAULE M-5) WAS DEPARTING FROM THE SAME RUNWAY. AT THAT POINT, THE PILOT FELT THE IMPACT AS THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED.
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 for the Maule M-5 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 579 hours in all; 485 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 485 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 11, 1995; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-C1F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C77 at 4:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,600 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:58 pm from RFD, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Aviat PITTS S2R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 590 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 570 as pilot in command; 2 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,491 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 4, 1995; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,575 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI10 Wilmot WI at 3:45 pm
- Destination: C77
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
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.