The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CHI02LA280 · Final report

Cessna 172P accident near Sturtevant, Wisconsin, September 16, 2002

On September 16, 2002, a Cessna 172P, registered N54091, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sturtevant, Wisconsin (Sylvania 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 proper touchdown point not attained and the approach speed not obtained/maintained by the pilot.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 16, 2002
Place
Sturtevant, Wisconsin · Sylvania · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
Registration
N54091 · no longer on the register · serial 17274872
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The airplane overran the runway after skidding for about 300 feet which was then followed by propeller strikes for a distance of 800 feet down the 2,272 foot long runway. The pilot had a total time of 91 hours.

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: 91 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left
  • Injury: no injuries

The aircraft

  • Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
  • Seats: 4
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: C89 Sturtevant WI at 11:55 pm
  • Destination: C89
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 08R, 2,272 ft by 33 ft

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.13 inHg

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.