Yakovlev Yak 52 accident near Lake-In-Hills, Illinois, September 3, 2007
On September 3, 2007 at about 6:58 pm local time, a Yakovlev Yak 52, registered N212YA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake-In-Hills, Illinois (Lake-In-The-Hills airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane descended and impacted terrain during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the soft, uphill terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2007 · about 6:58 pm local time
- Place
- Lake-In-Hills, Illinois · Lake-In-The-Hills · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yakovlev Yak 52 · all Yak 52s on the register
- Registration
- N212YA · no longer on the register · serial 877505
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The purpose of the flight was for the ATP/CFI to give the private pilot a biennial flight review, as his had expired. The airplane entered a steep left bank and descended to impact soft terrain during an initial climb after takeoff. Post accident inspection of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any failure/malfunction which would have resulted in 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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,356 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 172 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 6,651 as pilot in command; 2,794 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 235 hours in all; 98 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 164 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 961 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 22, 2006; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Vendeneyev M24P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3CK Lake-In-Hills IL at 6:58 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,058 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from DPA, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.