Cessna T182T accident near Morris, Illinois, October 31, 2004
On October 31, 2004 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna T182T, registered N814FA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Morris, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a loss of directional control. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind condition and the runway sign which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2004 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Morris, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna T182T · all T182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N814FA · registry record · serial T18208214
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with a runway sign and experienced a nose gear collapse following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 18 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt). The pilot reported the airplane touched down "smoothly" prior to veering to the left because of the crosswind. He reported he tried to correct the motion and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway where it contacted a runway sign and the nose gear collapsed. A witness reported that skid marks from all three tires were visible on the runway. The winds reported at the Joliet Regional Airport (JOT), Joliet, Illinois, located 13 statue miles northeast of C09, at 1505 were from 290 degrees at 7 knots. At 1245 the winds were reported as being 270 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 15 knots, and at 1525 the winds were from 270 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 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: 163 hours in all; 142 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 91 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-AK1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1C5 Bolingbrook IL at 6:45 pm
- Destination: C09 Morris IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 3:05 pm from JOT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.