Cessna T210N accident near Chicago, Illinois, January 22, 2002
On January 22, 2002 at about 4:55 pm local time, a Cessna T210N, registered N4785U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois (Midway Airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after takeoff. Factors relating to the accident were the pilot excessive rotation during takeoff and the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 22, 2002 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Midway Airport
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T210N · all T210Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4785U · registry record · serial 21064816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said that on takeoff roll on runway 31L at Chicago Midway Airport (MDW), he accelerated to 65 KIAS and rotated approximately at the intersection of runway 22L. The pilot said the rotation was more than desired. He said he attempted to hold 10 degrees nose up pitch attitude. Immediately after liftoff the airplane began to simultaneously yaw to the left and drift to the left. He said the airplane was unresponsive in all axes as he applied hard right aileron, right rudder, and nose down elevator. The pilot said the airplane reached an estimated height of 20 to 30 feet and began settling after passing over taxiway F. The airplane impacted into a dry pond bed in southwest quadrant of the airport. An examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. The reported winds at MDW were 200 degrees magnetic at 13 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,307 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 26 in the last 30 days; 2,209 as pilot in command; 948 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 19, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 13, 2001
- Maximum gross weight: 4,016 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-R (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL at 4:55 pm
- Destination: C65 Plymouth IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 31L, 3,859 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MDW, 5 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.