# NTSB investigations, IL: Uncontrolled descent

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

Page 1 of 2 · 62 cases

## Latest cases

- [NTSB ERA25FA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA179.md): Cessna 180 · Trilla, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report · Apr 19, 2025 · N4679U · Destroyed
  > On April 19, 2025, at 1016 central daylight time, a Cessna 180G, N4679U, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Trilla, Illinois. The private pilot and three passengers were fatally injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of…
- [NTSB CHI91LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA136.md): Piper PA-28-161 · Grayslake, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 20, 1991 · N4VT · Substantial damage
  > The instructor's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were the wind gusts and the instructor's failure to maintain airspeed.
- [NTSB CHI84LA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI84LA260.md): Balloon Works Firefly 7 · Geneva, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 24, 1984 · N1537D · Minor damage
  > The Balloon descended in an area of thunderstorms and turbulence and collided with trees. The plt said the Balloon 'caved in' and descended rapidly. The plts husband and a passenger revealed that the Balloon was 'vented' by the plt to land before reaching a…
- [NTSB CHI83FA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83FA148.md): Piper PA-32R-300 · Rochester, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Mar 21, 1983 · N1057Q · Destroyed
  > The acft experienced an in-flt break-up during descent. The pilot had reported on the radio to Kansas city ARTCC that hewas having severe chest pains and shortness of breath. Radar contact with the plane was lost at 1425 CST. The pilot had reported he was…
- [NTSB CHI81FA085](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA085.md): Piper PA-28R · Chicago, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 2, 1981 · N7631J · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI81FA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA082.md): Bellanca 7ECA · Delevan, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Aug 2, 1981 · N86580 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI81DEV17](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81DEV17.md): Balloon WKS 7B · Normal, IL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · May 2, 1981 · N15443 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI81FA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI81FA022.md): Cessna 150M · Timewell, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jan 25, 1981 · N63090 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI80FA069](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA069.md): Cessna 150J · Akin, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Sep 22, 1980 · N60771 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI80FA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FA034.md): Cessna 182 · Alhambra, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Apr 13, 1980 · N6405A · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI80FEV07](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI80FEV07.md): American AA-1B · Charleston, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 22, 1979 · N6245L · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA061](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA061.md): Mooney M20C · Brocton, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jul 26, 1979 · N6217U · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA057.md): Piper PA-22 · St Charles, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Jul 4, 1979 · N3027Z · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA052-134173.md): Cessna 172M · Chenoa, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 3, 1979 · N64168 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79AA041](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79AA041.md): Beech 58TC · St.Anne, IL · Accident · 6 fatal · Closed · Apr 7, 1979 · N17994 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI79FA011](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA011.md): Piper PA-24 · Ashton, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 25, 1978 · N8666P · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI79FA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI79FA028-202545.md): Piper PA-32R · Rock Falls, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Mar 14, 1978 · N7299C · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI78FA025](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78FA025.md): Cessna T210M · Beecher, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Mar 12, 1978 · N761EJ · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI77FA073](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA073.md): Beech C90 · Pontiac, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Sep 23, 1977 · N23796 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI77FA064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA064.md): Piper PA-28R · De Witt, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Aug 6, 1977 · N3009Q · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI77FEV15](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FEV15.md): Cessna 177RG · Springfield, IL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Mar 27, 1977 · N7584V · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI77FA014](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA014.md): Cessna 172M · Vandalia, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Dec 11, 1976 · N64024 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI77FA002](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI77FA002.md): Cessna 177B · Manteno, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 3, 1976 · N34434 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI76AC093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76AC093.md): Cessna T210L · Peoria, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Sep 26, 1976 · N732AB · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI76AC013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76AC013.md): Piper PA-32 · Chandlerville, IL · Accident · 6 fatal · Closed · Aug 14, 1975 · N3287W · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI76FEE08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI76FEE08.md): Cessna 182J · Kankakee, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Jul 23, 1975 · N139BC · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI75AC091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC091.md): Cessna 177B · Carpentersvile, IL · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · May 24, 1975 · N30836 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI75AC078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC078.md): Piper PA-28 · Trimble, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Apr 14, 1975 · N95243 · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI75AC015](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75AC015.md): Cessna 172F · Mayview, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 11, 1974 · N5533R · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI75FEE08](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI75FEE08.md): Piper PA-30 · Chicago, IL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Aug 1, 1974 · N1188Y · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI74AC062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC062.md): Piper PA-32 · Chicago, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Jan 17, 1974 · N3998W · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI74AC054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC054.md): Beech A23A · Cabery, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Dec 28, 1973 · N2303W · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI74AC029](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC029.md): Aerostar 601 · Chicago, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Oct 3, 1973 · N8MW · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI74AC012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74AC012.md): Cessna 182J · Chicago, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Aug 6, 1973 · N3147F · Destroyed
- [NTSB NYC73AN081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC73AN081.md): Piper PA-28 · Grand Tower, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Dec 8, 1972 · N4235T · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC094.md): Piper PA-24 · Ramsey, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · May 28, 1972 · N5796P · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC071.md): Cessna 172G · Orion, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Mar 12, 1972 · N4246L · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC009.md): Cessna 182K · Springfield, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Jul 23, 1971 · N7600K · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI72AC003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI72AC003.md): Piper PA-24 · Philo, IL · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Jul 4, 1971 · N9120P · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI71FBD65](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71FBD65.md): Piper PA-28 · Kewanee, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Apr 19, 1971 · N6418R · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI71AC064](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71AC064.md): Piper PA-32 · Geneva, IL · Accident · 5 fatal · Closed · Mar 13, 1971 · N3955W · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI71AC042](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71AC042.md): Piper PA-28 · Effingham, IL · Accident · 3 fatal · Closed · Dec 17, 1970 · N4253J · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI71AC016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI71AC016.md): Piper PA-28 · Manteno, IL · Accident · 4 fatal · Closed · Aug 22, 1970 · N5684U · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI70FBD24](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70FBD24-124509.md): Rolladen LS-1B · Plainfield, IL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · Jun 7, 1970 · N921WR · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI70AC074](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70AC074.md): Cessna 336 · Chicago, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Apr 28, 1970 · N3815U · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI70A0032](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI70A0032.md): Piper PA-32 · Northlake, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · Nov 10, 1969 · N3262W · Destroyed
- [NTSB MKC70A0027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC70A0027.md): Cessna 150E · Esmond, IL · Accident · 2 fatal · Closed · Nov 9, 1969 · N426RA · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI69A0096](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69A0096.md): Cessna 150G · Ofallon, IL · Accident · 1 fatal · Closed · May 20, 1969 · N3655J · Destroyed
- [NTSB CHI69F0521](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI69F0521.md): Bensen B-8M · Lacon, IL · Accident · Serious injuries · Closed · Feb 28, 1969 · N1173 · Substantial damage
- [NTSB CHI68F0781](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI68F0781.md): Taylorcraft BC12-D · Hillsdale, IL · Accident · No injuries · Closed · May 4, 1968 · N43918 · Substantial damage

Next page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases.md?state=IL&page=2

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
WITH phase_names(main, name) AS (VALUES (100, 'Prior to flight'), (150, 'Standing'), (200, 'Pushback/towing'), (250, 'Taxi'), (300, 'Takeoff'), (350, 'Initial climb'), (400, 'Enroute'), (450, 'Maneuvering'), (500, 'Approach'), (550, 'Landing'), (600, 'Emergency descent'), (650, 'Uncontrolled descent'), (700, 'Post-impact'), (750, 'After landing'), (800, 'Other'), (990, 'Unknown')),
  crosswalk(code, main, name) AS (VALUES (500, 150, 'Standing'), (501, 150, 'Standing - pre-flight'), (502, 150, 'Standing - starting engine(s)'), (503, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) operating'), (504, 150, 'Standing - engine(s) not operating'), (505, 150, 'Standing - idling rotors'), (510, 250, 'Taxi'), (511, 200, 'Taxi - pushback/tow'), (512, 250, 'Taxi - to takeoff'), (513, 250, 'Taxi - from landing'), (514, 250, 'Taxi - aerial'), (520, 300, 'Takeoff'), (521, 300, 'Takeoff - roll/run'), (522, 350, 'Takeoff - initial climb'), (523, 300, 'Takeoff - aborted'), (530, 400, 'Climb'), (531, 400, 'Climb - to cruise'), (540, 400, 'Cruise'), (541, 400, 'Cruise - normal'), (542, 400, 'Maneuvering - holding (IFR)'), (550, 400, 'Descent'), (551, 400, 'Descent - normal'), (552, 600, 'Descent - emergency'), (553, 650, 'Descent - uncontrolled'), (560, 500, 'Approach'), (561, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - downwind'), (562, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base turn'), (563, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - base leg/base to final'), (564, 500, 'Approach - VFR pattern - final approach'), (565, 500, 'Go-around (VFR)'), (566, 500, 'Approach - IAF to FAF/outer marker (IFR)'), (567, 500, 'Approach - FAF/outer marker to threshold (IFR)'), (568, 500, 'Circling (IFR)'), (569, 500, 'Missed approach (IFR)'), (570, 550, 'Landing'), (571, 550, 'Landing - flare/touchdown'), (572, 550, 'Landing - roll'), (573, 550, 'Landing - aborted'), (574, 550, 'Emergency landing'), (575, 550, 'Emergency landing after takeoff'), (576, 600, 'Emergency descent/landing'), (580, 450, 'Maneuvering'), (581, 450, 'Maneuvering - aerial application'), (582, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to reverse direction'), (583, 450, 'Maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency)'), (590, 450, 'Hover'), (591, 450, 'Hover - in ground effect'), (592, 450, 'Hover - out of ground effect'), (600, 800, 'Other'), (610, 990, 'Unknown')),
  current_codes AS (
    SELECT e.case_mkey, TRY_CAST(e."tier1Number" AS INTEGER) AS code,
      row_number() OVER (PARTITION BY e.case_mkey ORDER BY coalesce(e."isDefiningEvent", false) DESC, e.position) AS n
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e
    WHERE e.aircrafts_position = 1 AND e."tier1Number" GLOB '[1-9][0-9]*'
      AND (e."isDefiningEvent" OR e.case_mkey IN (SELECT "mKey" FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' WHERE "isPre1982"))
  ),
  phases AS (
    SELECT case_mkey, 'current' AS scheme, code, CASE WHEN code >= 990 THEN 990 ELSE code // 50 * 50 END AS main
    FROM current_codes WHERE n = 1
    UNION ALL
    SELECT o.case_mkey, 'older', o."phaseOfFlightCode", w.main
    FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_occurrences.parquet' o JOIN crosswalk w ON w.code = o."phaseOfFlightCode"
    WHERE o.aircrafts_position = 1 AND o."occurrenceNumber" = 1 AND o.case_mkey NOT IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM current_codes)
  ),
  case_phases AS (
    SELECT p.*, c."eventDate", c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal' AS fatal, a.aircraft_model_code
    FROM phases p JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c ON c."mKey" = p.case_mkey
    LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = p.case_mkey AND a.position = 1
    WHERE c."eventDate" >= DATE '1962-01-01' AND p.main IN (SELECT main FROM phase_names)
  )
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."eventStateOrRegion" = 'IL' AND c."eventCountry" = 'USA'
  AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM case_phases WHERE main = 650)
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/650/cases?state=IL

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OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.