Cessna 172N accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, April 10, 2002
On April 10, 2002 at about 9:28 am local time, a Cessna 172N, registered N733PX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Appleton, Wisconsin (Outagamie County 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 pilots failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during the takeoff roll resulting in the subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2002 · about 9:28 am local time
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Outagamie County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N733PX · registry record · serial 17268453
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantailly damaged when it impacted terrain after it went off of the left side of the runway during takeoff. The pilot reported that during takeoff, "the aircraft began pulling [to the] left. Executed right rudder inputs to correct. No effect." The airplane subsequently exited the runway. A postaccident examination was conducted. The nose and right main landing gears were torn loose from the airframe. The right wing and horizontal stabilizer were damaged. No anomalies were found with respect to the airplane, or its systems, that could be associated with a pre-impact condition.
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: 299 hours in all; 284 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 236 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 30, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 9:28 am
- Destination: FLD Fond Du Lac WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 7,001 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.31 inHg
- Observation at 9:25 am from ATW
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.
Other NTSB records under N733PX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.