Cessna 152 accident near Chicago, Illinois, May 10, 1983
On May 10, 1983 at about 5:23 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N69353, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois (Midway 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
- May 10, 1983 · about 5:23 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Midway · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N69353 · no longer on the register · serial 152
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT TOOK OFF FROM MIDWAY ARPT, FLEW TO ANOTHER ARPT TO PRACTICE LANDINGS, THEN RETURNED TO MIDWAY TO LAND. WHILE HE WAS ON AN APPROACH TO LAND ON RWY 22R, THE TOWER CONTROLLER REQUESTED THAT THE STUDENT MAKE A SHORT APPROACH DUE TO OTHER TRAFFIC. WHILE LANDING WITH A WIND FROM 130 DEG AT 10 KTS, THE ACFT BOUNCED ON THE 1ST TOUCHDOWN, THEN LANDED NOSEWHEEL 1ST. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY WAS DAMAGED & A FUEL TANK WAS RUPTURED.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,751 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 17, 1983; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22R, 5,508 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:25 pm from MDW
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.