Cessna 152 accident near Rockford, Illinois, July 27, 1985
On July 27, 1985 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67455, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rockford, Illinois (Greater Rockford 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 27, 1985 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Rockford, Illinois · Greater Rockford · 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
- N67455 · registry record · serial 15281814
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PLT ORIGINALLY PLANNED A X-COUNTRY FLT FROM JANESVILLE, WI, TO CHAMPAIGN, IL, TO GALESBURG, IL & BACK TO JANESVILLE. THE TOTAL ROUTE OF FLT WAS APRX 390 MI. THE PLT HAD CALCULATED THAT HE NEEDED 3-3/4 HRS OF FUEL. AT CHAMPAIGN, HE PURCHASED AN ADDITIONAL 5 GAL OF FUEL. HOWEVER, ABOUT 26 MI SHORT OF HIS DESTINATION, THE ENG BEGAN LOSING POWER & QUIT RUNNING DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION. THE PLT TRIED TO REACH A NEARBY ARPT, BUT WAS UNABLE. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE RIGHT WING TIP HIT A TREE WHICH RESULTED IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,114 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GBG Galesburg IL at 7:00 pm
- Destination: JVL Janesville WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 8,199 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.