Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

September 10, 2004 · Cessna 150F · N6544F

Ancona, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 10, 2004
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Ancona, IL
Aircraft
Cessna 150F
Tail Number
N6544F
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI04LA254

The airplane collided with power lines and terrain during cruise flight. The pilot just purchased the airplane and was flying cross country. On the first day of the flight he flew 2.5 hours then stopped because of fatigue and a headache. He stated he slept 15 hours and continued the flight the next morning. The pilot made one en route stop to purchase fuel followed by another to purchase a sectional chart. The pilot stated he was fatigued when he landed at the second airport, so he slept under the wing of the airplane for about one hour. He stated that shortly after taking off, he lost consciousness and did not regaining consciousness until after the accident. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane flying low prior to contacting the power lines. A mechanic at the last departure airport, reported the pilot taxied into the grass, then taxied 2/3 the way down the runway prior to taking off. The mechanic also stated the airplane remained at tree top level until it flew out of sight. The pilot did not have a current airman certificate. He was an insulin dependent diabetic and had heart bypass surgery two years prior to the accident. A review of the pilot's medical records failed to reveal a reason for his loss of consciousness. The pilot provided his post accident medical records to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for review. The NTSB Medical Officer reviewed the records and spoke with the pilot's daughter who is a physician. The medical officer's report documents that the pilot was an insulin dependent diabetic and that he had coronary bypass surgery two years prior to the accident. Emergency room records indicate the pilot had a temperature of 101.7 degrees F, a pulse of 105, and an oxygen saturation (from pulse oximetry) of 88 percent. Urinalysis and urine culture revealed a urinary tract infection. The NTSB Medical Officer's report states that discussions with the pilot's daughter revealed, "A specific etiology for the pilot's unusual behavior in the days preceding and on the day of the crash has not been identified." Post accident inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot became incapacitated (unconscious) for undetermined reasons which resulted in his inability to maintain altitude.

Full Narrative

On September 10, 2004, at 1455 central daylight time, a Cessna 150F, N6544F, collided with power lines and terrain during cruise flight in Ancona, Illinois. The private pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The airplane had departed the Marshall County Airport (C75), Lacon, Illinois, at approximately 1435, with an intended destination of the Springfield-Capital Airport (SPI), Springfield, Illinois. The pilot reported that he purchased the airplane in Phillips, Wisconsin, and was flying it to his home in Texas when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that on the day prior to the accident, he departed Phillips, Wisconsin, at 1300, and landed at the Portage Municipal Airport (C47), Portage, Wisconsin, at 1530. He stated he was very tired and had a bad headache, so he spent the night in a hotel sleeping from 1700 until 0800 the following morning. The pilot stated he departed C47, at 0930, on the day of the accident, en route to the Rochelle Municipal Airport (RPJ), Rochelle, Illinois. The pilot stated that he purchased fuel at RPJ, but they did not have a sectional chart that he wanted, so he decided to fly to C75, where he landed about 1200. The pilot reported that he purchased his sectional, checked his glucose level, and was tired so he fell asleep under the airplane wing. He stated that he slept for approximately one hour. The pilot stated he then departed C75 with the intention of following highways 39 and 55 to SPI. He stated he lost consciousness near Ancona, Illinois, prior to contacting the power lines, and regained consciousness after the accident. A mechanic at C75 reported that after the pilot woke from his nap, he started his aircraft and started to taxi when he made a sharp turn and got his airplane wedged up against another airplane. The pilot shut down the airplane. As he was exiting the airplane the step loosened and the pilot fell to the ground. The mechanic stated that he and another person ran to the airplane and the pilot stated that he was alright. The mechanic stated he tightened the step for the pilot who seemed fine. The mechanic stated the pilot got back in the airplane and taxied to runway 18. He stated the pilot turned sharply on the taxiway and taxied through the grass. The mechanic stated the airplane entered the runway and began to taxi down the runway. He stated he thought the pilot was going to back-taxi on the runway and takeoff on runway 36; however, when nearing the intersection of runway 13/31, the pilot added full power and took off. The mechanic stated the airplane was about 2/3 the distance down the runway when it took off. He stated the airplane remained at tree top level until it flew out of sight. Witnesses who were working outside in the area reported seeing the airplane flying low from west to east. The witnesses reported they next saw the power lines above them "whip wildly and arc." They then heard the airplane impact the ground and saw it sliding inverted through the field. The pilot provided his post accident medical records to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) for review. The NTSB Medical Officer reviewed the records and spoke with the pilot's daughter who is a physician. The medical officer's report documents that the pilot was an insulin dependent diabetic and that he had coronary bypass surgery two years prior to the accident. Emergency room records indicate the pilot had a oxygen saturation (from pulse oximetry) of 88 percent. The NTSB Medical Officers report states that discussions with the pilot's daughter revealed, "A specific etiology for the pilot's unusual behavior in the days preceding and on the day of the crash has not been identified." The pilot did not hold a current airman's certificate. On April 24, 1970, the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate based on his Canadian private pilot certificate. The limitations on the certificate stated that it expired on April 30, 1972, and that the holder of the certificate must wear corrective lenses. The last annual inspection on the aircraft and engine was performed on October 1, 2003. The entry in the aircraft logbook for the last annual inspection shows the right exhaust was removed from the airplane, repaired, and reinstalled. Post accident inspection of the wreckage was performed by the NTSB and Cessna Aircraft on October 15, 2004. No pre-impact mechanical failures/malfunctions were identified, which would have resulted in the pilot's loss of consciousness.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:55 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150F
Tail NumberN6544F
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 100
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 74 · None · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.18 inHg
Observation Time20:00
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data