Cessna 172M and Cessna 182S mid-air collision near New Munster, Wisconsin, April 10, 2004
On April 10, 2004, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N73213) and Cessna 182S (N355BD), were involved in a mid-air collision near New Munster, Wisconsin (Burlington Municipal airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Visual lookout not maintained by the pilots of both airplanes.
Visual lookout not maintained by the pilots of both airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2004
- Place
- New Munster, Wisconsin · Burlington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N73213 · registry record · serial 17267332
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182S · all 182Ss on the register
- Registration
- N355BD · no longer on the register · serial 18280327
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 172M and a Cessna 182S both received substantial damage during a midair collision. Both airplanes landed without further incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot of the Cessna 172M stated that he was in level flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level when he felt and heard a thump from the rear of the airplane. After the collision, the pilot saw the Cessna 182S above, to the left, and in front of him. The pilot of the Cessna 182S stated that as he rolled out from a steep turn, he saw the Cessna 172M at his 2 o'clock position, slightly low and very close. A moment later, his landing gear struck the Cessna 172M's vertical stabilizer. Neither airplane was receiving air traffic control services. The pilot of the Cessna 182S stated that the purpose of his flight was flight proficiency with the intent to practice holding, procedure turns, and instrument approaches. The pilot of the Cessna 172M did not hold an airplane instrument rating and was receiving instruction prior to the accident flight toward an instrument ratting. The pilot of the Cessna 182S held an airplane instrument rating at the time of the accident. Neither pilot had a safety pilot aboard the accident flights.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182S final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 172M and a Cessna 182S both received substantial damage during a midair collision. Both airplanes landed without further incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot of the Cessna 172M stated that he was in level flight at 2,500 feet mean sea level when he felt and heard a thump from the rear of the airplane. After the collision, the pilot saw the Cessna 182S above, to the left, and in front of him. The pilot of the Cessna 182S stated that as he rolled out from a steep turn, he saw the Cessna 172M at his 2 o'clock position, slightly low and very close. A moment later, his landing gear struck the Cessna 172M's vertical stabilizer. Neither airplane was receiving air traffic control services. The pilot of the Cessna 182S stated that the purpose of his flight was flight proficiency with the intent to practice holding, procedure turns, and instrument approaches. The pilot of the Cessna 172M did not hold an airplane instrument rating and was receiving instruction prior to the accident flight toward an instrument ratting. The pilot of the Cessna 182S held an airplane instrument rating at the time of the accident. Neither pilot had a safety pilot aboard the accident flights.
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 for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 409 hours in all; 319 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 308 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 29, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,583 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2004; 4.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PWK Wheeling IL
- Destination: BUU Burlington WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 391 hours in all; 136 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 325 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 8, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,411.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 2, 2004; 36.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming IO-540-AB1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UGN Waukegan IL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: BUU Burlington WI
- Flight plan: none
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.