Cessna 172G accident near Savoy, Illinois, December 2, 1989
On December 2, 1989 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N3783L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savoy, Illinois (Willard Arpt airport). It was a personal 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN HIS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: THE ADVERSE WIND CONDITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 2, 1989 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Savoy, Illinois · Willard Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N3783L · no longer on the register · serial 17253952
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING FROM THE RUNWAY TO THE PARKING AREA AFTER LANDING IN STRONG, GUSTY WINDS, A WIND GUST LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND PUSHED THE AIRCRAFT OVER, INVERTED. WIND AT THE AIRPORT WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 300 DEGREES AT 30 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED A PRELFIGHT WEATHER BRIEFING AND HAD OBTAINED WEATHER UPDATES & EN ROUTE ADVISORIES THROUGHOUT THE CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT. ALL WEATHER SERVICES REPORTED HIGH SURFACE WINDS, INCREASING IN STRENGTH DURING THE DAY WITH GUSTS.
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: 1,047 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 960 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,855 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 20, 1989; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: K78 Abilene KS at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 32, 8,100 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 30 knots, gusting 40
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from CMI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.