Cessna R182 accident near Lake Michigan, Illinois, December 10, 2001
On December 10, 2001, a Cessna R182, registered N2359C, was destroyed in an accident near Lake Michigan, Illinois. It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under general aviation rules (Part 91). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The uncontrolled descent for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 2001
- Place
- Lake Michigan, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N2359C · registry record · serial R18200160
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed during an in-flight collision with water following a rapid descent from 2,400 feet msl. The descent lasted approximately 32 seconds and the average and maximum descent rates were about 2,600 feet/min and 4,200 feet/min, respectively. A commercial salvage company located the wreckage debris field approximately eight months after the accident. The center of the debris field was approximately 1,500 feet east of the last recorded radar track position. The debris field was approximately 550 feet square and contained airframe structural components, avionics, engine exhaust components, and personal artifacts for at least two occupants. The main wreckage was not recovered. The only components salvaged were the cabin heat muff/shroud, carburetor heat muff, and assorted avionic equipment. The serial numbers for the recovered avionic equipment established that the wreckage was from N2359C. The recovered engine exhaust components were examined and no discrepancies were identified to have been present prior to the accident.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 225 hours in all; 23 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 6, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,656.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAY Dayton OH at 10:40 pm
- Destination: RAC Racine WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from KCGX, 13 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.