Howell-New Lenox Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

New Lenox, Illinois 60451
Thursday, July 23, 1998 19:13 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

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.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/23/1998
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1913
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City NEW LENOX
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 60451
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport HOWELL-NEW LENOX
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IC2
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 753
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1913 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 40
Weather Observation Facility ID MDW
Elevation of weather observation facility 619
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 20000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1600
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 23 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2134
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4813D
NTSB Number CHI98LA255
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172N
Aircraft Series Identifier 172N
Aircraft Serial Number 17272365
Certified Max Gross Weight 2300
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jul 10 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 6042
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name RHONDA BUSS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2711 W. WINSOR AVE.
Aircraft Owner City CHICAGO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60625
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AVIATION PROFESSIONALS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 5300 W. 63RD.
Operator City CHICAGO
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60638
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MDW
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --