Cessna 152II accident near Lake In The Hls, Illinois, December 16, 1988
On December 16, 1988 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152II, registered N714ZE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake In The Hls, Illinois (Lake In The Hills 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 PILOT IN COMMAND FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT WHILE CORRECTING FOR A CROSSWIND. CONTRIBUTING TO THE CAUSE IS THE PILOT'S LACK OF EXPERIENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 16, 1988 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake In The Hls, Illinois · Lake In The Hills · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152II · all 152IIs on the register
- Registration
- N714ZE · no longer on the register · serial 15279555
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING THE FIRST TAKEOFF FOR THE THIRD SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT WHEN SHE OVERCORRECTED FOR A CROSSWIND WHILE ON TAKEOFF ROLL. THE AIRPLANE WAS TRAVELING AT 50-55 KNOTS WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, TO NO AVAIL. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRPLANE.
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: 23 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1988; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3CK Lake In The Hls IL at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 7°F (-14°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:46 pm from DPA, 180 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.