Cessna 172K accident near Staunton, Illinois, December 22, 1987
On December 22, 1987 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N78705, was substantially damaged in an accident near Staunton, Illinois (Willhoit airport). It was a personal 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
- December 22, 1987 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Staunton, Illinois · Willhoit · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N78705 · registry record · serial 17257725
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE FLARE FOR LANDING THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT AND THE RIGHT WINGTIP CONTACTED THE RUDDERS OF TWO AIRCRAFT PARKED WITH THEIR TAILS 21' AND 23' FROM THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY. THE WINGSPAN OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT IS 35'9'. HAD THE PILOT BEEN ABLE TO LAND ON THE CENTERLINE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN 3' CLEARANCE. ALL THREE AIRCRAFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 197 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1987; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CPS Cahokia IL at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,600 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from ALN, 13 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.