Cessna 305A accident near Park Forrest, Illinois, June 4, 1983
On June 4, 1983 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Cessna 305A, registered N5258G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Park Forrest, Illinois (Haedtler airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind 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
- June 4, 1983 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Park Forrest, Illinois · Haedtler
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 305A · all 305As on the register
- Registration
- N5258G · registry record · serial 22736
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN ON A ROUTINE FLIGHT CHECK AFTER HAVING COMPLETED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE CLIMBED TO 800 FT, TURNED DOWNWIND, EXTENDED FLAPS TO 30 DEG, SLOWED TO 70-80, & INTENDED TO MAKE A PASS OVER THE FIELD TO MAKE SURE IT WAS CLEAR PRIOR TO MAKING A FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE PLT THEN STATED THAT UPON ENTRY TO A RWY HEADING THE ACFT 'APPARENTLY ENTERED AN AREA OF EXTREME THERMO-LIFT CAUSING RIGHT WING TO RISE SUDDENLY CAUSING MOMENTARY INCREASE IN BANK AND APPARENT ACCELERATED STALL CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO DIVE INTO GROUND.' THE OFFICIAL TEMPERATURE RECORDED 0850 AT CHICAGO MIDWAY ARPT, LOCATED 18 MI NORTH, WAS 68 DEG F.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,078 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 9,472 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,552 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-11 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from MDW, 18 miles away
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.