Cessna 404 II accident near Chicago, Illinois, November 29, 1985
On November 29, 1985 at about 10:44 pm local time, a Cessna 404 II, registered N167SA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chicago, Illinois (Chicago Inter airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- November 29, 1985 · about 10:44 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · Chicago Inter · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 404 II · all 404 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N167SA · registry record · serial 404-0639
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TUG DRIVER WITH BAGGAGE CART FAILED TO YIELD TO A TAXIING ACFT WHEN CROSSING AN ACTIVE TAXIWAY. IT WAS DARK NITE. ACFT HAD POSITION/TAXI LITES ON. VEHICLE STOP SIGN TO TAXI CENTERLINE IS 70 FT. DRIVER SAID HE STOPPED AT SIGN. TUG STRUCK RT WG TIP, WG LEADING RUPTURING FUEL TANK AND SEPARATED ONE PROP BLADE FROM RT PROP HUB. ACFT WAS PUSHED 4 FT SIDEWAYS BY IMPACT.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,600 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,035 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 20, 1985; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL
- Destination: SUE Menominee WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 050° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 1 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from ORD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.