Cessna 172 accident near Seneca, Illinois, October 3, 1982
On October 3, 1982 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N5308D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Seneca, Illinois (Springbrook airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person 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
- October 3, 1982 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Seneca, Illinois · Springbrook · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5308D · no longer on the register · serial 172272507
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING ON A 2300 FT RUNWAY, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT 1000 TO 1200 FT BEYOND THE APPROACH END. THE PILOT FELT THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT ROOM TO STOP SAFELY, SO SHE INITIATED A GO-AROUND. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THE PLANE CRASHED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 185 hours in all; 102 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 982 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Cumulus LTD
The flight
- Departed from: Lewis Lockport IL at 9:00 am
- Destination: Seneca IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,300 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 21,000 ft; scat at 1,200 ft
- Temperature: 149°F (65°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 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.