Cessna 172P accident near Waukegan, Illinois, July 9, 1992
On July 9, 1992 at about 12:18 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N98673, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waukegan, Illinois (Waukegan 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 STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRPLANE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. RELATED FACTORS ARE THE STUDENT'S LACK OF TOTAL FLIGHT EXPERIENCE, AND IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1992 · about 12:18 pm local time
- Place
- Waukegan, Illinois · Waukegan
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N98673 · no longer on the register · serial 17276332
- 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 ON A SUPERVISED SOLO FLIGHT, PRACTICING TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS WITH A SLIGHT (5 TO 7 KNOT) CROSSWIND. HE STATED AS HE FLARED HE 'LOST' THE WIND CORRECTION AND THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE RUNWAY ONTO THE GRASS. HE REPORTED HE INADVERTENTLY APPLIED BRAKE INSTEAD OF RUDDER DURING HIS ATTEMPTS TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED 26 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, INCLUDING 2 HOURS AS PIC.
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: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A.T.E. Of Florida, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: UGN IL at 12:00 pm
- Destination: IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 6,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:20 pm from UGN, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N98673 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.