Cessna 172L accident near Harvard, Illinois, August 14, 2003
On August 14, 2003, a Cessna 172L, registered N7054Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Harvard, Illinois (Dacy 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
The pilot's improper flare which led to a hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2003
- Place
- Harvard, Illinois · Dacy · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172L · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N7054Q · registry record · serial 17260354
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over following a hard landing during a solo instructional flight. The pilot practiced several takeoffs and landings with his instructor. The flight instructor then exited the airplane and he made two uneventful solo landings. The accident occurred on the third landing. The pilot stated that he closed the throttle when he reached his "aim point" on the airstrip. He stated the airplane then dropped from an altitude of about 8 feet, landing on the nose wheel. The airplane bounced and came down again at which time the nose gear collapsed. The propeller contacted the ground and the airplane nosed over.
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: 76 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,200 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 2, 2003; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0C0 Harvard IL at 11:30 pm
- Destination: 0C0 Harvard IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 3,589 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
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.