Cessna 150 accident near West Chicago, Illinois, March 25, 1982
On March 25, 1982 at about 2:55 am local time, a Cessna 150, registered N9239U, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. 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 25, 1982 · about 2:55 am local time
- Place
- West Chicago, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N9239U · no longer on the register · serial 15078
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT AND AN INSTRUCTOR HAD PREVIOUSLY FLOWN THIS AIRCRAFT TO RECERTIFY THE STUDENT FOR SOLO FLIGHT. AFTER THE DUAL FLIGHT, THE STUDENT HAD SOME PROBLEM WITH OBTAINING FUEL AND TOOK OFF WITHOUT REFUELING. WHILE FLYING AT NIGHT, THE STUDENT BECAME LOST. WITH THE HELP FROM ANOTHER PILOT, CONTACT WAS MADE WITH A FLIGHT SERVICE STATION (FSS). THE FSS WAS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL. WHILE ATTEMPTING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AT NIGHT, THE STUDENT TURNED TO AVOID TREES, THEN ATTEMPTED TO PULL UP TO AVOID TELEPHONE WIRES. HOWEVER, THE PLANE STALLED AND CAME TO REST IN THE WIRES AND AGAINST A TELEPHONE POLE WITH ONE WING TOUCHING THE GROUND.
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: 88 hours in all; 81 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 21 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,293 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Aurora IL at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Aurora IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 108°F (42°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.