Cessna 195 accident near Lansing, Illinois, July 2, 2008
On July 2, 2008 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 195, registered N4408C, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Lansing, Illinois (Lansing Municipal 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's inadequate compensation for the gusting crosswind condition during landing. Contributing to the accident was the strong gusting crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2008 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lansing, Illinois · Lansing Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 195 · all 195s on the register
- Registration
- N4408C · registry record · serial 7993
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident occurred during a crosswind landing in strong gusting winds. The pilot reported that shortly after touchdown the left main landing gear collapsed due to an excessive side load. The airplane swerved to the right, coming to rest in a grass easement off the right side of the runway. The left wing, left main landing gear, and fuselage were damaged. The local winds were from the southwest at 15 knots, gusting 26 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
What happened, in order
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,008 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2,008 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,389 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jacobs R755A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1G5 Medina OH at 4:00 pm
- Destination: IGQ Lansing IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 26
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
- Observation at 8:05 pm from IGQ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N4408C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.