Smith Kelly-D accident near Poplar Grove, IL
On July 21, 2001, a Smith Kelly-D (airplane) was involved in an accident near Poplar Grove, IL. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- July 21, 2001
- Place
- Poplar Grove, IL
- Aircraft
- Smith Kelly-D · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 42.360°N, 88.820°W
- NTSB ID
- 20010727X01532
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 21, 2001, at 1245 central daylight time, an experimental Smith Kelly-D biplane, N303SM, was destroyed when it experienced an in-flight separation of the right upper wing and impacted terrain about 1/4 mile north of the Poplar Grove Airport (C77), Poplar Grove, Illinois. The private pilot and passenger received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight had departed C77 at 1230 on a local flight. The airplane was observed doing aerobatic type maneuvers prior to the in-flight break-up. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot had flown N303SM to C77 as part of the 3rd Annual Midwest Regional American Hatz Association fly-in that was being held at C77 over the weekend of July 20 and 21st. Witnesses reported the pilot had given passenger rides in the biplane during the morning. A witness reported that airplane landed and refueled. After refueling, a passenger was loaded and the airplane departed on a local flight. A witness reported he observed the airplane coming from the north of the airport and flying toward the airport. He reported that he, "saw the Kelly-D airplane coming out of a maneuver of some kind. He continued west at approx. 800-1000'. He pulled up, rolled to the left (inverted) and pulled out (1/2 loop). He repeated the same maneuver going east, and as he leveled out I saw what looked like a large piece of fabric and another object leave the airplane. The fabric fell slowly the other object a little faster. The airplane continued for a couple seconds and then rolled over and spiraled into t
Probable cause
The right upper wing failed due to overload. A factor was the pilot performing aerobatic manuevers.
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Browse: Illinois · Smith aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
