Cessna 150 accident near Wheeling, Illinois, March 24, 1982
On March 24, 1982, a Cessna 150, registered N714KR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wheeling, Illinois. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 24, 1982
- Place
- Wheeling, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N714KR · registry record · serial 15079238
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT DEPARTED WHEELING, IL ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT TO DUBUQUE, IA; OSHKOSH, WI AND RETURN. THE PILOT REFUELED WITH 17.7 GALLONS OF 100 OCTANE LOW-LEAD GASOLINE AT DUBUQUE, BUT DID NOT REFUEL AT OSHKOSH. NEAR MILWAUKEE, HE NOTED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL GAUGE INDICATED 1/2 FULL AND THE LEFT GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY. THE PILOT CONTINUED ON TOWARD HIS DESTINATION, AND SIX MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT, HE WAS CLEARED TO LAND. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND FINALLY LOST POWER. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD, BUT AT THE END OF HIS LANDING ROLL, THE PLANE STRUCK A ROW OF HEDGES. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT BOTH FUEL TANKS WERE EMPTY.
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: 68 hours in all; 68 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,864 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Services
The flight
- Departed from: Oshkosh WI at 4:35 pm
- Destination: Palwaukee IL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 127°F (53°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:00 pm from OSH
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.