# NTSB CEN26LA083: Cessna 150, N101FA, Round Lake Park, IL, January 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 5, 2026, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Round Lake Park, IL - Coordinates: 42.324611, -88.074088 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3246&lon=-88.0741&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 202266 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202266/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202266 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA083 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during a soft-field takeoff and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that her student was performing a simulated soft-field takeoff from a paved runway. Once the nose landing gear lifted off the runway, the airplane began to drift to the left. The instructor stated that she attempted to correct the drift while instructing the student to apply more right rudder. The airplane continued to drift to the left side of the runway as the main wheels lifted; the instructor reported she then took the flight controls to correct the drift, but was not able to regain directional control of the airplane before the left wing impacted trees. After the impact with the trees, the airplane rotated about 270° and came to rest upright, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane’s aft fuselage. The instructor reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The instructor further reported that the accident could have been prevented if she was “shadowing” the flight controls and taken the flight controls sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N101FA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N101FA), registered now, S/N 15072843 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15072843 - Year built: 1971 - Airframe hours: 1622 - Engines: Continental O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Stiletto Beaver Touchdown LLC, doing business as Na - Registered owner: Stiletto Beaver Touchdown LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 3, 2025, 40 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: C81, Campbell Airport, runway 27, 3,270 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 48; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,291.2 total, 351.1 in this make and model, 889.9 as pilot in command, 56.8 in the last 90 days, 17.1 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 14 total, 14 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 8.3 in the last 30 days, 1.7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KUGN, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KUGN 052051Z 08005KT 10SM CLR 03/00 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP108 T00280000 53002 $= ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260105001859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260105001859A), Jan 5, 2026: Cessna 150L, Grayslake, IL, Substantial damage. On January 5, 2026, at approximately 1430 local time, [privacy data omitted] was on an instructional flight that attempted to perform a soft field take off on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202266. 2.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20167658&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20FORM%206120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20167685&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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.