Cessna 150J accident near Dekalb, Illinois, July 29, 1982
On July 29, 1982 at about 1:00 am local time, a Cessna 150J, registered N60028, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dekalb, Illinois (Dekalb airport). 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
- July 29, 1982 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Dekalb, Illinois · Dekalb · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150J · all 150Js on the register
- Registration
- N60028 · registry record · serial 15070015
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS. HE STATED THAT ON ABOUT HIS SIXTH LANDING, HE TOUCHED DOWN HARD ON THE MAIN GEAR THEN LOWERED THE NOSE. AS THE NOSE WHEEL TOUCHED DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE RUNWAY; HOWEVER, THE STUDENT WAS ABLE TO DIRECT IT BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY WHERE IT SKIDDED TO A STOP. AN EXAMINATION OF THE NOSE GEAR REVEALED THAT THE AXLE NUT AND BOLT WERE MISSING. FAA PERSONNEL FOUND THE BOLT. THE BOLT WAS BROKEN AS A RESULT OF SHEARING FORCES. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE ACCOMPLISHED LANDINGS IN A FULL STALL CONDITION.
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: 67 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 34 in the last 90 days; 19 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- 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: DPA West Chicago IL
- Destination: DPA West Chicago IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,800 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 165°F (74°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from DPA, 20 miles away
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.