Cessna 172M accident near Gridley, Illinois, June 15, 2003
On June 15, 2003 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N20553, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gridley, Illinois (Kuntz Field Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The checklist not followed by the pilot and the fuel starvation of the engine. The incorrect fuel tank selector position by the pilot,, and the lack of recurrent training were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2003 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Gridley, Illinois · Kuntz Field Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N20553 · registry record · serial 172C1388
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot reported he did not have the fuel valve in the proper position during takeoff. The pilot stated he turned to the left to avoid landing in a ditch, after the engine failed during initial climb. The pilot's last biennial flight review was June 6, 1997.
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: 302 hours in all; 302 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 28, 1997
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,798.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2002; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2W (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IS64 Gridley IL at 10:00 pm
- Destination: IS64
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,200 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from BMI, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI03LA161.