Overview
A commercial pilot was conducting a repositioning flight from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Atlanta, Georgia. According to the investigation, the pilot had been without sleep for approximately 20 hours prior to the accident. The flight ended when the aircraft collided with trees in a subdivision near Rockford, Illinois.
Sequence of Events
Witnesses observed the aircraft circling a subdivision at low altitude, just above treetop level. The aircraft was seen in a steep left bank, estimated at 70 to 90 degrees. It then reversed direction into a steep right bank and descended into trees. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries.
Probable Cause
The official investigation identified the following findings for the abrupt maneuver occurrence: misjudgment of clearance by the pilot, fatigue (lack of sleep), and poor judgment. For the in-flight collision with an object, the finding was that the object was tree(s).