Cessna 172G accident near Glenarm, Illinois, August 13, 1999
On August 13, 1999 at about 2:10 pm local time, a Cessna 172G, registered N4425L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glenarm, Illinois (Robinson Rla airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's selection of the wrong runway for the prevailing winds. Factors were the pilot's misunderstanding of the wind information and the tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 1999 · about 2:10 pm local time
- Place
- Glenarm, Illinois · Robinson Rla · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172G · all 172Gs on the register
- Registration
- N4425L · registry record · serial 17254514
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he listened to the Springfield ATIS (automated terminal information service) broadcast before takeoff and set the altimeter. He said he heard the wind was 290 degrees at 17 knots. He said for some reason he taxied to the west end of the strip and did his run up. The pilot said that on takeoff he started to lift off at 55 to 60 indicated. He said on climb out the airplane drifted right and struck corn. He said the right wing's contact with the corn pulled the airplane further into the corn and the airplane came to rest on its top. The pilot said he should have been taking off to the west.
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: 702 hours in all; 316 in this make and model; 614 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0H0 at 2:10 pm
- Destination: 0H0
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,200 ft; scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from SPI, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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 N4425L 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.