Cessna 177 accident near Lockport, Illinois, July 14, 1989
On July 14, 1989 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3146T, was destroyed in an accident near Lockport, Illinois (Lewis University airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION, AND HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL OR MUSH. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE AIRCRAFT'S EXCESSIVE GROSS WEIGHT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 1989 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lockport, Illinois · Lewis University · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3146T · registry record · serial 17700446
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM A 3000 FT RUNWAY WITH A PILOT AND TWO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. AFTER A LONG TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, BUT FAILED TO GAIN NORMAL ALTITUDE. ONE WITNESS REPORTED THAT HE OBSERVED UP & DOWND MOVEMENT OF THE 'STABILATOR' & THAT THE PLANE WAS STARTING TO PORPOISE IN FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A LEFT TURN BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY, THEN DESCENDED & COLLIDED WITH A MANUFACTURING PLANT. THE AIRCRAFT'S GROSS WEIGHT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 86 LBS OVER THE MAXIMUM CERTIFIED LIMIT.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,255 hours in all; 800 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Observation at 4:45 pm from ARR, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.