CHI04LA010

Factual narrative

On October 14, 2003, at 1600 central daylight time, an experimental exhibition Wright Redux Association 1903 Wright Flyer, N203WF, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain after the airplane stalled during takeoff at an altitude of about 30 feet at the Clow International Airport (1C5), Bolingbrook, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot was uninjured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, the airplane, a replica of the Wright Flyer, departed from a 140 foot long rail in an attempt to demonstrate a flight at an altitude of 3-5 feet above ground level (AGL) for at least 100 feet. The pilot stated that upon reaching the end of the rail, he encountered a wind gust at the same time that he was pulling back on the stick resulting in the airplane pitching upward to about 30 degrees. He then reportedly pushed the stick forward to counteract the pitch attitude but was never able to regain pitch control. The airplane stalled about 30 feet AGL, descended backwards, banked/slipped right, and then regained a nose level attitude. The airplane impacted the ground with the right wing followed by the landing skid and the left wing. The airplane was a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer and was powered by a Packer Engineering Wright engine, serial number 1, rated at 12 horsepower. The pilot, age 36, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He reported a total flight time of 650 hours, of which 6 minutes were in the accident airplane. He reported that the accumulated a total of 3 minutes in the last 90 days and 3 minutes in the last 30 days in the accident airplane. The Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at 1C5 recorded, at 1545: wind 320 degrees at 13 knots gusting 20 knots. At 1605, the ASOS recorded: wind 320 degrees at 15 knots gusting 26 knots. The experimental exhibition replica of a 1903 Wright Flyer impacted terrain after it stalled about 30 feet above ground level after takeoff The pilot stated that upon reaching the end of the launch rail, he encountered a wind gust at the same time that he was pulling back on the stick, resulting in the airplane pitching upward to about 30 degrees. The wind gusts recorded 15 minutes prior to the accident indicated that they were gusting to 20 knots, and to 26 knots 5 minutes after the accident. The private pilot had a total flight time of 650 hours, of which 6 minutes were in the accident airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12