Cessna 172M accident near West Chicago, Illinois, June 7, 2003
On June 7, 2003 at about 3:31 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N13474, was destroyed in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois (Dupage Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The abrupt pull-up initiated by the pilot during takeoff before airspeed was attained resulting in a stall. Factors contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane on 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
- June 7, 2003 · about 3:31 pm local time
- Place
- West Chicago, Illinois · Dupage Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N13474 · no longer on the register · serial 17262777
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane stalled and impacted the terrain following a loss of directional control on takeoff. The student pilot reported he had been practicing soft field takeoffs and landings with his instructor. The student pilot's instructor exited the aircraft after the third landing. The student reported he then performed two solo soft field takeoffs and landings. The student pilot stated he was making his third takeoff at the time of the accident. The student pilot reported the airplane drifted to the right of the centerline, then he heard a sound and pitched up the nose of the airplane. The student pilot reported he then lost control of the airplane. The student pilot exited the airplane before it was consumed by a post-impact fire. A witness reported seeing the airplane in a 45 degree nose up attitude at a slow speed prior to it rolling to the left and impacting the ground.
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: student
- Flight time: 109 hours in all; 109 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 6 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,122 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 22, 2003; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Illinois Aviation Academy
The flight
- Departed from: DPA West Chicago IL at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,751 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DPA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N13474 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.