Cessna 172M accident near Middleton, Wisconsin, June 9, 2001
On June 9, 2001 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N191WW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleton, Wisconsin (Morey Field). 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 attempted a touch and go on unsuitable terrain. A factor associated with the accident was the tall wet grass airstrip on which the touch and go was attempted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2001 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Middleton, Wisconsin · Morey Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N191WW · registry record · serial 17260840
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over during an aborted takeoff on a soft grass airstrip. The pilot reported that he performed 7 or 8 touch and go landings on runway 30 which is asphalt. He then decided to perform the last touch and go on runway 36 (2,971 feet by 110 feet, wet grass). The pilot reported that after landing he configured the airplane for takeoff. He continued to report, "The plane would not get up to flying speed. The engine was at full power and I was bogging down. I decided to abort the take-off and pulled power out, full back elevator and the airplane slowed down, when the nose wheel touched down in the very soft mud and the plane nosed-over and came to rest inverted." The pilot reported that prior to takeoff he "...asked the lady behind the counter if the grass runways were open and she said yes." Inspection of the airstrip after the accident revealed the grass was wet from recent rains. The pilot described the runway as "very soft and muddy with long grass."
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 192 hours in all; 42 in this make and model; 31 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 101 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,403 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2001; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C29 Middleton WI at 11:15 am
- Destination: C29 Middleton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,175 ft by 110 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MSN, 10 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.