Cessna TR182 II accident near Sandwich, Illinois, March 11, 1989
On March 11, 1989 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna TR182 II, registered N2096S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sandwich, Illinois (Sandwich 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 PILOT'S POOR HANDLING OF THE AIRCRAFT, IMPROPER FLARE AND INADEQUATE RECOVERY FROM A BOUNCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 11, 1989 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Sandwich, Illinois · Sandwich · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna TR182 II · all TR182 IIs on the register
- Registration
- N2096S · no longer on the register · serial R18201300
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT EXECUTED A HARD LANDING, TOUCHING DOWN NOSE WHEEL FIRST, AND BOUNCED TWO TO THREE TIMES BEFORE THE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF. THE AIRCRAFT NOSED DOWN. THE PILOT STEERED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE RUNWAY INTO THE GRASS AS IT SLID TO A STOP. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE 'NEEDED TO FLY MORE OFTEN.'
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: 511 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 361 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 835 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 15, 1988; 37 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL at 4:45 pm
- Destination: C48 Sandwich IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 2,988 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 3 statute miles
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from ARR, 11 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.