CHI03LA115

Factual narrative

On April 27, 2003, at 1700 central daylight time, a Stinson 108-1, N97930, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 27 (5,697 feet by 75 feet, dry/asphalt) at the Lewis University Airport (LOT), Romeoville, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight departed LOT at 1600 and was landing at the time of the accident. According to the pilot's written statement, when he was 5 miles from LOT he requested the current weather conditions over the Unicom frequency. The pilot reported he was told the winds were 180 degrees magnetic at 6-8 mph with gusts to 10 mph. The pilot stated he landed on runway 27 and during the landing rollout "a strong gust of wind started to weather vane the [aircraft] to the left." The pilot reported he applied right rudder, right brake, and retracted the flaps. The pilot stated the airplane continued to veer to the left, departing the runway surface. The right main landing gear collapsed, causing substantial damage to the airplane. A weather observation station, located at LOT, recorded the weather around the time of the accident as: Observation Time: 1705 cdt Wind: 200 degrees magnetic at 15 knots, Gusts 21 knots Visibility: 10 statute miles Sky Condition: Sky Clear Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius Dew Point: 02 degrees Celsius Pressure: 29.90 inches of mercury During the landing rollout the airplane encountered a wind gust that caused the airplane to weather vane. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, which resulted in the airplane departing the runway. The aircraft was landing on runway 27 and the reported winds were 200 degrees magnetic at 15 knots with gusts to 21 knots. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12