Cessna 172P accident near Washington Island, Wisconsin, July 17, 1982
On July 17, 1982 at about 2:30 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N64947, was destroyed in an accident near Washington Island, Wisconsin (Washington Is airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1982 · about 2:30 am local time
- Place
- Washington Island, Wisconsin · Washington Is
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N64947 · no longer on the register · serial 17275658
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL, THE PILOT MADE AN APPROACH TO RUNWAY 14 FOR A NIGHT LANDING. AFTER FLARING TO LAND, THE AIRCRAFT WAS OBSERVED TO FLOAT. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD COME IN HIGH, AND DURING A GO-AROUND, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT SEEM TO CLIMB PROPERLY, THEN SUDDENLY THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE TREES. HE HEARD NO STALL WARNING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLANE HAD STRUCK A RESIDENTIAL LEAD-IN POWER LINE AND TREES ABOUT 500 FT BEYOND THE RUNWAY AND 1000 LEFT OF THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE. NO DISCREPANCIES WERE REPORTED, EXCEPT THAT THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS FOUND FULL ON.
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: 117 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 74 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 176 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Minneapolis MN at 6:45 pm
- Destination: Washington Is WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 22, 2,500 ft by 200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 178°F (81°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from MNM, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 2 |
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.