Cessna 172C accident near West Chicago, Illinois, June 26, 1993
On June 26, 1993 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172C, registered N1441Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Chicago, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper use of carburetor heat. Conditions conducive to the formation of carburetor ice was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 26, 1993 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- West Chicago, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172C · all 172Cs on the register
- Registration
- N1441Y · no longer on the register · serial 17249141
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED SHORTLY AFTER LEVELING OFF FROM A CRUISE DESCENT, THERE WAS A DROP IN ENGINE RPM, FOLLOWED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN AN OPEN FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST NOSE DOWN. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION AND ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL DIFFICULTY. THE PILOT WAS RETURNING THE AIRPLANE TO THE HOME BASE AIRPORT AFTER COMPLETION OF AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. A NEARBY WEATHER OBSERVATION INDICATED A TEMPERATURE OF 80 DEGREES, WITH A DEW POINT OF 61 DEGREES.
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: 455 hours in all; 84 in this make and model; 455 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,785 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 26, 1993; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C56 Monee IL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: 06C Schaumburg IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from DPA, 5 miles away
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.