Cessna 150F accident near Genoa, Illinois, May 18, 2023
On May 18, 2023 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1966 Cessna 150F, registered N6840F, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Genoa, Illinois (Aero Lake Estates Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during a go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 18, 2023 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Genoa, Illinois · Aero Lake Estates Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150F, built 1966 · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N6840F · registry record · serial 15063440
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported, that while landing, a “huge downdraft hit the plane” and “dropped the plane quickly and very low.” She attempted a go-around; however, the airplane was not “able to generate enough lift”, and she lost control. The airplane landed in the grass next to the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. She also recalled hearing the stall warning before contacting the ground. The pilot reported a loss of electrical power to the radios. She added there were no anomalies or malfunctions with respect to the flight controls or engine that would have precluded a normal go-around maneuver.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Other weather encounter during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 104.5 hours in all; 104.5 in this make and model; 24.7 in the last 90 days; 9.6 in the last 30 days; 24.9 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 14, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,043.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 3,043 hours total
- Operator: C747 LLC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 20, 2,800 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from KDKB, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDKB 181855Z AUTO 15011G16KT 10SM CLR 21/08 A3003 RMK AO2 T0211008
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 31, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot Email Clarification for Form 6120 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN23LA191.