Amateur-built VANS accident near Bolingbrook, Illinois, March 18, 2016
On March 18, 2016 at about 9:15 pm local time, a 2003 amateur-built VANS, registered N442TB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bolingbrook, Illinois (Bolingbrook'S Clow Intl airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain direction control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in runway excursion, collision with terrain, and nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 18, 2016 · about 9:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bolingbrook, Illinois · Bolingbrook'S Clow Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VANS RV 6, built 2003
- Registration
- N442TB · no longer on the register · serial 23912
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll the airplane abruptly turned about 25 degrees to the left. He reduced the power to idle, applied right rudder, but reported that he over corrected to the right. He then applied left rudder to correct for the over correction. The airplane veered off the runway to the left, down an embankment and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 354 hours in all; 24.8 in this make and model; 7.6 in the last 90 days; 5.4 in the last 30 days; 239.6 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 7, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 431.9 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 15, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,725 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A18 (piston); 645 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C5 Bolingbrook IL at 8:45 pm
- Destination: JOT Joliet IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,362 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from KLOT, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 12, 2016. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Phone Conversation (A&p) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photo | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.