On March 23, 1994, at 0950 central standard time, a Cessna 172P airplane, N97650, sustained substantial damage when it departed runway 16 while landing in Wheeling, Illinois. The solo student pilot received no injuries. The instructional flight originated from Wheeling, Illinois at 0925 and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. A VFR flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot reported the flight was planned as a student solo cross country to Watertown, Wisconsin. A local flight instructor checked the pilot's preparation and endorsed his log book for the planned flight. He departed runway 24 at Wheeling and elected to return due to deteriorating en route weather. The tower reported winds were from 210 degrees at 10 knots and told the pilot to expect runway 24. The pilot requested runway 16. In his written report he stated he was "not comfortable with runway 24 because of its length".