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CHI93DEV01

1993-08-08 · CANTON, Illinois, United States · Fatal · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport CTK

N78WC has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (CESSNA B300, built 2016), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

the pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during final approach to landing.

Factual narrative

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On August 8, 1993, Mr. Walter D. Courtney departed Canton Ingersoll Airport, Canton, Illinois, on a pleasure flight under 14 CFR Part 91. His son, Mr. David Courtney, was a passenger (in the aft seat) for this flight. The aircraft was a Walter D. Courtney, N78WC, serial number 1648. Model Courtney Two is an experimental, amateur built aircraft, registered to and built by Mr. Walter D. Courtney. At 1710 central daylight time, N78WC was on approach to land on Runway 18 at Canton Ingersoll Airport. Witnesses observed that just prior to touchdown, the aircraft made a very abrupt right turn, flying a few feet above ground, in a westward direction. The aircraft hit a tree causing it to turn inverted and impact the ground. The aircraft slid approximately thirty feet until it came to rest in a cyclone fence. The pilot received fatal injuries and the passenger sustained minor head injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.

INJURIES TO PERSONS

The pilot-in-command, Walter D. Courtney, received fatal injuries. His son, who was the passenger occupying the aft seat, received minor injuries.

DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT

The aircraft received substantial damage in the accident. No fire or explosion occurred. The left wing, canopy, and propeller were destroyed.

OTHER DAMAGE

The aircraft struck a tree, which it tore down, and it impacted a cyclone fence.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

Mr. Walter D. Courtney, the pilot-in-command, held a Commercial Pilot Certificate with airplane single and multiengine land, airplane single engine sea, and instrument airplane ratings. He also held a Flight Instructor Certificate, airplane single engine rating and repairman certificates for the following experimental aircraft: Make-Courtney, Walter D. Model-Courtney Two (Vari-EZE) Serial Number-1648 Certification Date-08/28/80 Make-Owen One Model-Teenie Two Serial Number-510037 Certification Date-06/10/75

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The aircraft, a Walter D. Courtney, N78WC, serial number 1648, is an experimental aircraft built by Mr. Walter D. Courtney. The Airworthiness Certificate was issued January 30, 1979. The kit name, Vari-EZE, was a single reciprocating engine, with a seating capacity of two.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Mr. Walter D. Courtney received fatal injuries. The autopsy report revealed that the actual cause of death was Traumatic Asphyxia due to, or as a consequence of, the airplane crash. Toxicology was also performed with negative results. The autopsy was conducted by the Fulton County, Illinois, Physician, Sharon I. Schnittker, M.D. THE EXPERIMENTAL, AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH TO LAND WHEN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE MAKE AN ABRUPT RIGHT TURN JUST PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO FLY A FEW FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE RUNWAY UNTIL IT EVENTUALLY STRUCK A TREE AND A FENCE. POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRPLANE DISCOVERED NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1993_CHI93DEV01.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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