Cessna 152 accident near West Chicago, Illinois, October 5, 1986
On October 5, 1986 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5488B, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois (Dupage 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
- October 5, 1986 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- West Chicago, Illinois · Dupage · 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
- N5488B · no longer on the register · serial 283883
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT ASSUMED HE HAD FULL FUEL TANKS PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. HE THEN PROCEEDED TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT FOR APPROXIMATELY 4.4 HOURS. JUST PRIOR TO HIS FINAL LANDING HE WAS FORCED TO GO AROUND DUE TO AN AIRCRAFT ON THE RUNWAY. FOLLOWING THIS GO AROUND HE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF ON BASE LEG. AT THIS POINT HE RAN OUT OF FUEL. HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN FLOWN FOR 1.1 HOURS TWO DAYS AFTER IT WAS FULLY FUELED AND EIGHT DAYS PRIOR TO HIS 4.4 HOUR FLIGHT. THEREFORE THE AIRCRAFT HAD FLOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 5.6 HOURS WHEN IT RAN OUT OF FUEL.
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
- Flight time: 59 hours in all; 57 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 19, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Travel Express Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,401 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from DPA, 1 miles away
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.