Sonex, N610DJ: Accident occurred December 24, 2020 at O'Connor Field Airport (8IL5), Pecatonica, Winnebago County, Illinois

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; DuPage, Illinois

https://registry.faa.gov/N610DJ

Location: Pecatonica, IL 

Accident Number: CEN21LA100

Date & Time: December 24, 2020, 14:40 Local

Registration: N610DJ

Aircraft: WALTON DANIEL J SONEX 

Injuries: 1 Serious

Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On December 24, 2020, about 1440 central standard time, a Sonex, N610DJ, was involved in an accident near Pecatonica, Illinois. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight.

The pilot of the personal flight reduced engine power during a visual approach for landing to O'Connor Field Airport (8IL5), Pecatonica, Illinois. The airplane engine lost power, and the pilot was unable to restart the engine. Witnesses located at 8IL5 saw the airplane enter a stall/spin on base to final for runway 9. The airplane impacted terrain in a nose low attitude and sustained substantial damage.

The airplane wreckage was retained for further examination.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: WALTON DANIEL J

Registration: N610DJ

Model/Series: SONEX 

Aircraft Category: Airplane

Amateur Built: Yes

Operator: On file

Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 

Condition of Light: Day

Observation Facility, Elevation: KRFD,743 ft msl

Observation Time: 11:54 Local

Distance from Accident Site: 13 Nautical Miles

Temperature/Dew Point: -9°C /-17°C

Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 2500 ft AGL

Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 14 knots / 21 knots, 290°

Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 3600 ft AGL 

Visibility: 8 miles

Altimeter Setting: 29.84 inches Hg 

Type of Flight Plan Filed: None

Departure Point: 

Destination: Pecatonica, IL

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious

Aircraft Damage: Substantial

Passenger Injuries:

Aircraft Fire: None

Ground Injuries: 

Aircraft Explosion: None

Total Injuries: 1 Serious

Latitude, Longitude: 42.303868,-89.344838 (est)