Cessna 150M accident near Wheeling, Illinois, October 10, 1999
On October 10, 1999 at about 10:09 pm local time, a Cessna 150M, registered N2977V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois (Palwaukee Municipal Arpt. airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
aircraft control not maintained by the pilot. A factor to the accident was the windshear.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 1999 · about 10:09 pm local time
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · Palwaukee Municipal Arpt. · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N2977V · registry record · serial 15076340
- 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 during the takeoffs and landings, prior to the accident, the winds were 300-320 degrees magnetic at a velocity of 12 knots. The pilot stated that during the last approach to the runway, the wind velocity and direction changed, 'dramatically'. The pilot reported that, 'when over the runway, in very gusty winds, I was able to hold centerline, but could not stabilize the aircraft well enough to touchdown.' The pilot stated that he applied full power for a go-around and contacted the control tower of his intentions. The pilot reported that he, 'Retracted the flaps incrementally...held full power, but airspeed would not climb above 46 knots.' The pilot stated that he flew in level flight for a couple of seconds before realizing that he would not clear the airport's perimeter fence. The pilot reported that he landed, with full power applied, rolled over a taxiway when the nose-wheel collapsed and the airplane slid to a rest. An automated surface observing system (ASOS), located on the Palwaukee Municipal Airport, reported the wind direction and intensity 4 minutes prior to the accident as 340-degrees at 12 knots. The same weather observation system reported the wind direction and intensity 1 minute after the accident as 020-degrees at 17 knots gusting to 21 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 119 hours in all; 99 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,568 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 2, 1999; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,397 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:10 pm from PWK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CHI00LA007.