On August 23, 1987, a Cessna 172 (registration N8207B) was involved in an aviation accident near Baileyville, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during a low-altitude search for a remote-controlled aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot searching for a remote-controlled aircraft at low altitude lost control of the plane, which entered a tight left turn and crashed nose-down into a cornfield.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a flight operation at a very low altitude, specifically between 300 and 400 feet above ground level. The purpose of this flight was to locate a remote-controlled aircraft that had been lost during its own previous flight. During the search pattern, the pilot lost control of the aircraft.
A witness on the ground observed the sequence of events leading to the crash. The witness reported that the aircraft entered a tight left turn. Immediately following this maneuver, the nose of the aircraft dropped suddenly. The plane then descended rapidly into a cornfield. The final attitude of the aircraft upon impact was described as having a 50 to 60-degree nose-down pitch with the right wing low.
The investigation
Investigative efforts included gathering witness testimony regarding the flight path and final attitude of the aircraft. The physical evidence confirmed the location of the crash site within an agricultural field.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during a low-altitude search for a remote-controlled aircraft.
What happened in the 23 Aug 1987 Cessna 172 accident near Baileyville, IL?
A pilot searching for a remote-controlled aircraft at low altitude lost control of the plane, which entered a tight left turn and crashed nose-down into a cornfield.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 23 Aug 1987 involved a Cessna 172, registration N8207B, at Baileyville, IL.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot's loss of control during a low-altitude search for a remote-controlled aircraft.
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