Cessna 152 accident near Romeoville, Illinois, July 27, 1989
On July 27, 1989 at about 9:40 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25848, was substantially damaged in an accident near Romeoville, Illinois (Lewis University airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S MISJUDGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1989 · about 9:40 pm local time
- Place
- Romeoville, Illinois · Lewis University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25848 · no longer on the register · serial 80816
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
FOLLOWING PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OF THEIR AIRPLANE, THE STUDENT PILOT TOLD HIS INSTRUCTOR THE AIRPLANE NEEDED FUEL BECAUSE IT INDICATED ONE QUARTER FULL. FROM THE QUANTITY INDICATORS, THE INSTRUCTOR ESTIMATED SUFFICIENT FUEL AND PROCEEDED WITH THE FLIGHT. THE PILOTS TOOK OFF TO PRACTICE TOUCH-AND-GO LANDINGS AT AN OUTLYING FIELD. FORTY-FIVE MINUTES AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST POWER AND THE INSTRUCTOR EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING. WHEN EXAMINED IN THE FIELD, NO FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE TANKS. THE ENGINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY GROUND RUN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 862 hours in all; 283 in this make and model; 388 in the last 90 days; 106 in the last 30 days; 745 as pilot in command; 382 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 7, 1989; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A & M Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: LOT Joliet IL at 9:35 pm
- Destination: LOT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.