Probable cause
The inadequate flare by the student pilot and the inadequate supervision and delayed go-around performed by the flight instructor. Contributing to the accident were the student pilot's failure to attain/maintain a stabilized approach.
NTSB analysis
The airplane experienced a hard landing during a student pilot instructional flight. The student pilot had performed two landings at the accident airport before attempting a third landing. During the third landing attempt, the airplane had a high descent rate while on final approach. The flight instructor stated that he repeatedly told the student to check the vertical speed indicator while the airplane was between final and short final. The student pilot said that before the airplane landed, the flight instructor did not say anything when engine power was reduced to idle, which resulted in the airplane slowing too much and dropping.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CHI08LA273 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Aug 28, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Grayslake, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Campbell Airport (C81)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Dusk
Beech C23
- N-number
- N6664N
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.