Cessna 182S accident near Alton, Illinois, January 3, 2003
On January 3, 2003 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Cessna 182S, registered N2724R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Alton, Illinois (St Louis Regional airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll. Contributing factors were the wet, icy runway conditions and the presence of the snowbank.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 3, 2003 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Alton, Illinois · St Louis Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182S · all 182Ss on the register
- Registration
- N2724R · registry record · serial 18280322
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when it departed the runway surface and impacted a snowbank. The student pilot, on a solo flight, reported that he had completed one takeoff and landing, and was attempting to takeoff again when the accident occurred. He stated that he had applied full power, when the airplane "started veering to the left." The pilot noted that he was afraid of overcontrolling and did not apply brakes. "When I realized I was headed off of [the] runway, I pulled power and hit 15" high snow bank," the pilot reported. He also stated that the ATIS received prior to taxi reported braking action as "poor" on runway 35. The pilot noted that there were no failures or malfunctions associated with the airplane, either prior to, or at the time of, 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: student
- Flight time: 71 hours in all; 28 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 9 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 544 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 26, 2002; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ALN Alton IL at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 6,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from ALN
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.
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.