Cessna R172 accident near Mount Carroll, Illinois, October 5, 2025
On October 5, 2025 at about 3:40 pm local time, a 1977 Cessna R172, registered N7354V, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Mount Carroll, Illinois (Herb Tautz airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during a go around in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 5, 2025 · about 3:40 pm local time
- Place
- Mount Carroll, Illinois · Herb Tautz · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R172 K, built 1977 · all R172s on the register
- Registration
- N7354V · registry record · serial R1722304
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to land at the private airfield with a turf strip. A pilot on the ground had radioed to the pilot that the wind was estimated at 5 to 7 knots. The pilot reported that while on approach to land to the east with the flaps fully extended, the wind had increased to 10 knots, and the airplane was being pushed towards the north of the runway. The pilot performed a go around and attempted to gain airspeed to begin a climb. The pilot lost aircraft control as the wind picked up the right wing and turned the airplane to the north. The airplane entered a nose down descent until it impacted the ground. A postimpact fire destroyed the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting station reported a variable wind at 7 knots prior to the accident. After the accident, wind was reported from the southwest at 7 knots gusting 17 knots and was variable between 170° and 270°.
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
- Loss of control in flight during approach (VFR go-around) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Ability to respond/compensate
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,115 hours in all; 789 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,115 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: BasicMed
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,978 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 2, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 2,450 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-360-K (piston); 4,978 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: KBMI Bloomington IL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: LL07 Mt Carroll IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway E, 2,400 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 7 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.08 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am from KSQI, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSQI 051556Z AUTO 21007G17KT 170V270 10SM CLR 26/14 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP180 T02560139=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 14, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigative Photo | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Wind Data | 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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.