Cessna 182R accident near Peoria, Illinois, July 6, 1997
On July 6, 1997 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Cessna 182R, registered N661SP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Peoria, Illinois. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat and the carburetor icing conditions which existed at the time of the accident. Factors were the ditch and poles which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 1997 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Peoria, Illinois
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N661SP · registry record · serial 18268564
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While on final approach the pilot advanced the throttle; however, the engine power did not increase. A forced landing was made in a soybean field. The airplane contacted a ditch at which time the nose gear collapsed. The airplane then continued across a road where it contacted two sign posts. Post accident inspection failed to reveal any failure/malfunction which would have prevented normal operation of the engine. It was noted, however, that the spark plugs were sooted. The engine functioned normally during a test run. The temperature/dew point (68 and 56 degrees F respectively) is conductive to moderate icing at cruise power or serious icing at glide power.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,833 hours in all; 1,566 in this make and model; 171 in the last 90 days; 65 in the last 30 days; 1,694 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,655 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 19, 1997; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SPI Springfield IL at 1:15 pm
- Destination: PIA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from PIA
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.
Other NTSB records under N661SP the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.