Amateur-built PULSAR accident near Belleville, Illinois, September 23, 1999
On September 23, 1999 at about 11:15 pm local time, a amateur-built PULSAR, registered N9550, was substantially damaged in an accident near Belleville, Illinois. It was a personal 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1999 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Belleville, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PULSAR
- Registration
- N9550 · registry record · serial 199
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he conducted a pre-flight inspection and run-up prior to starting the takeoff from the private airport. He said that everything, 'seemed normal' until the airplane reached about 200 feet above ground level. He said at that point the engine had a total loss of power. He said that he was unable to land back on the runway and saw a farmer on a tractor directly off the end of the runway, so he elected to make a slight turn to the left and descended into the corn and the terrain. Subsequent to the accident an examination of the airplane and engine was conducted. Fuel was found in the fuel pump and lines to the engine. There was spark at the plugs. The cylinder head was removed and no internal damage was found. The engine rotated. No anomalies were found in the airframe or engine.
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: 1,184 hours in all; 204 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 1,184 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 204 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 11 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: H49 at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 CHI99LA358.