Cessna 152 accident near Horicon, Wisconsin, February 10, 2001
On February 10, 2001 at about 8:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5085P, was destroyed in an accident near Horicon, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the inadvertent stall/spin. Additional factors included the aerobatic manuevers, low altitude, and the procedures not followed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 10, 2001 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Horicon, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5085P · no longer on the register · serial 15284872
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was destroyed when it impacted the ice-covered marsh while maneuvering. A witness reported, "All afternoon I was watching a metallic gray 2 person plane buzz around. It was always doing loops or other tricks. Right before the crash I saw the plane go almost straight up banking slightly to the left. It appeared to stall - holding its position for a second. Then it proceeded to fall nose first. It rotated about 1 1/2 times before crashing. It almost looked like it might pull out at the end. It wasn't a straight on crash. The left wing hitting first then the nose." The pilot had received spin training in a C-152 in the fall of 1997 when he received his Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI) rating. The airplane impacted in about a 50 degrees nose down attitude. The wreckage path was limited to the point of impact. The left and right wing leading edges exhibited aft crushing along the length of their spans. The left wingtip exhibited aft crushing and buckling. The right wingtip was intact except the leading edge of the fiberglass was broken. The flaps were found extended 30 degrees. The inspection of the airplane revealed no anomalies to the airframe or engine. The Cessna 152 Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) states, "It is recommended that, where feasible, [spin] entries be accomplished at altitudes high enough to complete recoveries 4000 feet or more above ground level." It also stated, "...entries should be planned so that recoveries are completed well above the minimum 1500 feet above ground level required by FAR 91.71." The POH states the following limitation: "Intentional spins prohibited with flaps extended." The POH does not list flap extension as a procedure for recovery from an inadvertent spin. The POH states that no acrobatic maneuvers are approved except for Chandelles, Lazy 8's, Steep Turns, Spins, and Stalls.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 28, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,933 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 2000; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWC Milwaukee WI at 7:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.51 inHg
- Observation at 6:59 pm from UNU, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.