| Crash location | 41.421945°N, 88.417778°W |
| Nearest city | Morris, IL
41.364476°N, 88.407289°W 4.0 miles away |
| Tail number | N814FA |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 31 Oct 2004 |
| Aircraft type | Cessna T182T |
| Additional details: | None |
On October 31, 2004, at 1300 central standard time, a Cessna T182T, N814FA, collided with a runway sign and experienced a nose gear collapse following a loss of directional control while landing on runway 18 (4,001 feet by 75 feet, dry asphalt) at the Morris-Washburn Airport (C09), Morris, Illinois. The private pilot and two passengers on board were not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from Bolingbrook, Illinois, at 1245.
The pilot reported the airplane touched down "smoothly" prior to veering to the left because of the crosswind. He reported he tried to correct the motion and the airplane veered to the right. The airplane traveled off the right side of the runway where it contacted a runway sign and the nose gear collapsed. A witness reported that skid marks from all three tires were visible on the runway.
The winds reported at the Joliet Regional Airport (JOT), Joliet, Illinois, located 13 statue miles northeast of C09, at 1505 were from 290 degrees at 7 knots. At 1245 the winds were reported as being 270 degrees at 11 knots gusting to 15 knots, and at 1525 the winds were from 270 degrees at 9 knots gusting to 15 knots.
The pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions which resulted in a loss of directional control. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty crosswind condition and the runway sign which the airplane contacted.