Socata TB 9 TAMPICO accident near Cahokia, Illinois, February 6, 1999
On February 6, 1999 at about 9:41 pm local time, a Socata TB 9 TAMPICO, registered N544PC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cahokia, Illinois (St. Louis Downtown-Parks airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper decision to initiate the takeoff with insufficient runway remaining. A factor associated with the accident was pilot's failure to obtain clarification from the controller regarding the clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1999 · about 9:41 pm local time
- Place
- Cahokia, Illinois · St. Louis Downtown-Parks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Socata TB 9 TAMPICO TB 9 TAMPI · all TB 9 TAMPICOs on the register
- Registration
- N544PC · registry record · serial 1643
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The newly certificated private pilot was cleared for a touch and go. The controller then stated '...make this a full stop I'll call your departure roll.' The pilot stated he did not understand what the controller meant, but he did not question the clearance. He stated he intended on making a full stop and turning off onto the taxiway. When nearing the end of the runway the controller cleared the pilot for takeoff. The pilot applied power then realized he did not have sufficient runway remaining for a takeoff. He reduced power, but the airplane continued off the end of the runway where it contacted a hole in the terrain. The ATC Handbook states the phraseology 'stop-and-go' should be used for spacing and sequencing traffic.
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
- Flight time: 70 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 1 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,842 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 13, 1998; 95 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,338 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DEC Decatur IL
- Destination: CPS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30R, 3,990 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,500 ft; scat at 2,900 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:42 pm from CPS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI99LA087.