Cessna 172B accident near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, September 29, 2010
On September 29, 2010 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 172B, registered N7560X, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Oconomowoc, Wisconsin (Oconomowoc Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing the float-equipped airplane on a turf runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2010 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Oconomowoc, Wisconsin · Oconomowoc Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172B · all 172Bs on the register
- Registration
- N7560X · registry record · serial 17248060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot purchased the float-equipped airplane on the day of the accident. During landing on the turf runway, one of the airplane's floats dug into the terrain and the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,250 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 25, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,339 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 23, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-360-KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Lake Hudson MI at 5:30 pm
- Destination: OWI8 Oconomowoc WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 1,400 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.