Cessna 195 accident near Downers Grove, Illinois, November 28, 2025
On November 28, 2025 at about 6:12 pm local time, a 1948 Cessna 195, registered N4332V, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR go-around) near Downers Grove, Illinois (Brookeridge Air Park airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an attempted go-around.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 2025 · about 6:12 pm local time
- Place
- Downers Grove, Illinois · Brookeridge Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195, built 1948 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4332V · registry record · serial 7238
- 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 after completing a 1-hour local flight, he entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 27. An automated weather report from an airport 9 miles away reported the wind from 300° at 10 knots. During final approach he confirmed that the airport’s windsock position was consistent with 300°. After touch down, the airplane bounced multiple times, but he maintained directional control. However, about halfway down the runway, he was uncertain if he would be able to stop the airplane on the remaining runway, so he initiated a go-around. During the climb, the airplane yawed left and collided with a tree then impacted the ground. The collision with tree and ground impact resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 618.2 hours in all; 409.8 in this make and model; 32.1 in the last 90 days; 2.5 in the last 30 days; 529.6 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 25, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,769.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 9, 2025; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755-A2 (piston); 2,389 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LL22 Downers Grove IL at 5:11 pm
- Destination: LL22 Downers Grove IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09/2, 2,813 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.39 inHg
- Observation at 11:46 am from KLOT, 9 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLOT 281746Z 28009G15KT 260V320 10SM FEW050 M01/M10 A3039=
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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2026. 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 | Photo | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N4332V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 CEN26LA056.