Cessna 172N accident near New Lenox, Illinois, July 24, 1998
On July 24, 1998, a Cessna 172N, registered N4813D, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Lenox, Illinois (Howell-New Lenox airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1998
- Place
- New Lenox, Illinois · Howell-New Lenox · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N4813D · no longer on the register · serial 17272365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The instructor pilot reported, 'After takeoff and during the climb out, the engine didn't produce power to sustain lift, at that point, I took the a/c over, avoided homes, a barn, and landed it in a nearby field. Without any altitude and limited airspeed we landed against the furrows which flipped us over....' The student pilot, who had about 10 hours of total flight time, reported that, 'All of the readings on the instruments looked normal and all the engine gauges were in the green.' He reported, '... the engine stopped running. There was no warning, alarm, or indication of any kind that gave knowledge or concern of the engine experiencing any difficulties or of its stopping.' An engine run was performed. The engine was successfully started three times. On the third start the engine was run at 1,900 RPM's. The carburetor heat was pulled on and a drop of 125 RPM's was registered. The engine was not run at a higher RPM due to the propeller blade tips being bent and curled.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,600 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,600 as pilot in command; 1,600 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,042 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 10, 1998; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Professionals
The flight
- Departed from: MDW Chicago IL at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.