Cessna 152 accident near New Lenox, Illinois, February 28, 1990
On February 28, 1990 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N67950, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Lenox, Illinois (New Lenox-Howell 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
PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING ROLL PHASES OF FLIGHT, DUE TO DEPOSITS OF SLUSH FROZEN ON THE LEFT LANDING GEAR BRAKE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 28, 1990 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- New Lenox, Illinois · New Lenox-Howell · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67950 · registry record · serial 15282112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 'THE LEFT WHEEL...WOULD NOT ROLL...' AND THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH FILLED WITH PLOWED SNOW. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LANDING GEAR AND BRAKES REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR DIFFICULTY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE MOVEMENT AREAS (INCLUDING THE SOD RUNWAY) AT HIS DEPARTURE AIRPORT HAD AREAS THAT WERE COVERED WITH SLUSH AND SNOW. HE STATED THAT HE DISCOVERED FROZEN SLUSH ON THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BRAKE AFTER THE ACCIDENT.
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: 130 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 31, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0C8 Newark IL at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 1C2 New Lenox IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 2,376 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.