# NTSB CEN26LA080: Cessna 150, N3103V, Prospect Heights, IL, December 21, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: December 21, 2025, 13:42 local (19:42 UTC)
- Place: Prospect Heights, IL
- Coordinates: 42.114279, -87.901541
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1143&lon=-87.9015&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA080
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA080

## Preliminary report

On December 21, 2025, about 1342 central standard time, a Cessna 150M, N3103V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Prospect Heights, Illinois. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The student pilot was flying solo. He was returning from the practice area and was on final approach. While making an altitude correction, the student pilot applied engine power and applied slight back pressure on the control yoke. He heard a click and realized the yoke was stuck. He initially applied a “decent amount of force” and was unable to move the control. The stuck control resulted in the airplane beginning to climb while on short final. The pilot then added more force to get the yoke to move, he heard another click and the yoke was released and worked again. He then landed and taxied back without any further issues. Examination afterwards by the pilot and his flight instructor found the support collar at the instrument panel had cracked (see figure below). When the control yoke was moved through its range of motion a certain way, the support collar would cause the yoke to be stuck until aggressive force was applied to free it. Due to the adverse effect on the aircraft’s flight characteristics and the required replacement of the support collar, the airplane sustained substantial damage. The support collar was removed and retained for further examination. Figure. Support collar for pilot control yoke.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333) (defining event)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3103V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3103V), registered now, S/N 15076382, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15076382
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 6568.5
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: N3103v LLC
- Registered owner: N3103v LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 4, 2025
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: KPWK, Chicago Executive Airport, runway 16, 5,001 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 7 °F
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observed at: KPWK
- METAR: METAR KPWK 211852Z 25007KT 10SM CLR M02/M14 A3045 RMK AO2 SLP321 T10171144 $=

## Other investigations on N3103V (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN26LA299](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA299), Aug 22, 2026: Cessna 150M (N3103V), Greenwood, IL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

---
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.