Cessna 172 accident near Lansing, Illinois, October 29, 1989
On October 29, 1989 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N1316U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lansing, Illinois (Lansing Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADVERTENT SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN (TAXIWAY/CONSTRUCTION AREA). THE STEEL MARKER POLES CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 1989 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Lansing, Illinois · Lansing Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N1316U · no longer on the register · serial 17267005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT INTENDED TO LAND ON THE NEWLY EXTENDED RWY (RWY 27). THE WIND WAS RPRTD TO BE FROM 190 DEG AT 12 KTS. AS THE PLT WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN TO FINAL APCH, HE OVERSHOT THE TURN DUE TO THE X-WIND & INADVERTENTLY ALIGNED THE ACFT WITH THE TAXIWAY (TWY), WHICH WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO BE LENGTHENED ALSO. AS THE PLT WAS FLARING TO LAND, HE REALIZED HE WAS ALIGNED WITH THE TAXIWAY. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED A GUST & TOUCHED DOWN. THE PLT ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE LANDING. DRG THE LANDING, THE ACFT STRUCK A SERIES OF STEEL MARKER POLES (12 TO 24 INCHES HIGH), WHICH RESULTED IN ACFT DAMAGE.
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: 140 hours in all; 61 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days
- 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: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.