What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On September 12, 2025, at 2200Z, the pilot in command (PIC) of privacy data omitted, a Cessna C172R, landed at Lake In The Hills Airport (3CK) in Lake In The Hills, IL. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) and using visual flight rules (VFR). The nearest automatic terminal information service (ATIS) reported calm conditions and broken sky cover, kpwk 122152Z 12006KT 10SM clr 28/13 A3013.
During a 14 CFR part 61 inspection that occurred on October 1, 2025, a damaged aircraft was discovered under repair in a hangar at 3CK. The mechanic conducting the maintenance provided information on the PIC. When contact, the PIC stated that on the incident flight, he was conducting a leisure flight, with no passengers on board. Upon returning for landing the PIC touched down on runway 26 and applied brakes to slow the aircraft. The PIC had just purchased new orthopedic style shoes that fit differently and were wider than his usual shoes. The PIC stated that as he applied the brakes, one shoe overlapped the other, causing an uneven application of the brakes resulting in a runway excursion, and subsequent impact with a taxiway sign. The aircraft came to rest in a ditch. The aircraft sustained minor damage, including damage to the nose cowling, left strut and belly. The PIC was uninjured.
As the FAA filed it
ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2025, AT 2200Z, THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, A CESSNA C172R, LANDED AT LAKE IN THE HILLS AIRPORT (3CK) IN LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS (VMC) AND USING VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR). THE NEAREST AUTOMATIC TERMINAL INFORMATION SERVICE (ATIS) REPORTED CALM CONDITIONS AND BROKEN SKY COVER, KPWK 122152Z 12006KT 10SM CLR 28/13 A3013.
DURING A 14 CFR PART 61 INSPECTION THAT OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 1, 2025, A DAMAGED AIRCRAFT WAS DISCOVERED UNDER REPAIR IN A HANGAR AT 3CK. THE MECHANIC CONDUCTING THE MAINTENANCE PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE PIC. WHEN CONTACT, THE PIC STATED THAT ON THE INCIDENT FLIGHT, HE WAS CONDUCTING A LEISURE FLIGHT, WITH NO PASSENGERS ON BOARD. UPON RETURNING FOR LANDING THE PIC TOUCHED DOWN ON RUNWAY 26 AND APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT. THE PIC HAD JUST PURCHASED NEW ORTHOPEDIC STYLE SHOES THAT FIT DIFFERENTLY AND WERE WIDER THAN HIS USUAL SHOES. THE PIC STATED THAT AS HE APPLIED THE BRAKES, ONE SHOE OVERLAPPED THE OTHER, CAUSING AN UNEVEN APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES RESULTING IN A RUNWAY EXCURSION, AND SUBSEQUENT IMPACT WITH A TAXIWAY SIGN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A DITCH. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE, INCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE NOSE COWLING, LEFT STRUT AND BELLY. THE PIC WAS UNINJURED.