Stinson 108-1 accident near Romeoville, Illinois, April 27, 2003
On April 27, 2003 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Stinson 108-1, registered N97930, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeoville, Illinois (Lewis University Airport). It was a personal 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
The pilot not maintaining directional control during the landing rollout. A factor to the accident was the gusting crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 27, 2003 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Romeoville, Illinois · Lewis University Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Stinson 108-1 · all 108-1s on the register
- Registration
- N97930 · no longer on the register · serial 108-930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing rollout the airplane encountered a wind gust that caused the airplane to weather vane. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway. The aircraft was landing on runway 27 and the reported winds were 200 degrees magnetic at 15 knots with gusts 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: 600 hours in all; 480 in this make and model; 600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,933 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 2003; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,230 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin 6A-150-B3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOT Romeoville IL at 9:00 pm
- Destination: LOT Romeoville IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 5,697 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 15 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 10:05 pm from LOT
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.