Cessna R182 and Piper PA-17 mid-air collision near Prairie Dusac, Wisconsin, April 26, 1985
On April 26, 1985 at about 11:36 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna R182 (N4707T) and Piper PA-17 (N761R), were involved in a mid-air collision near Prairie Dusac, Wisconsin (Sauk-Prairie airport). 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- April 26, 1985 · about 11:36 pm local time
- Place
- Prairie Dusac, Wisconsin · Sauk-Prairie · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N4707T · registry record · serial 18201739
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-17 · all PA-17s on the register
- Registration
- N761R · no longer on the register · serial 1724
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna R182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED APPROX 2 MI NE OF SAUK-PRAIRIE APT. THE PILOTS OF THE CESSNA WERE IN A CLIMBING RIGHT DEPARTURE TURN AT APPROX 1600 FT MSL HEADING APPROX 120 DEG WHEN A COLLISION OCCURRED WITH A PIIPER HEADING APPROX 270 DEG AND DESCENDING. ONE PILOT IN THE CESSNA WAS WEARING AN INSTRUMENT HOOD. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER WAS FLYING INTO THE SETTING SUN. ONE WITNESS SAW THE PIPER MAKE A SHARP EVASIVE TURN JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOTS OF THE CESSNADID NOT SEE THE PIPER UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. FOLLOWING THE COLLISION THE PILOT OF THE PIPER LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND CRASHED. THE PILOTS IN THE CESSNA LANDED SAFELY BACK AT SAUK-PRAIRIE EVEN THOUGH 3 FT 4 INCHES OF THE RIGHT WING AND 4 FT 4 INCHES OF THE RIGHT AILERON WERE MISSING. NEARLY FULL LEFT AILERON WAS REQUIRED THROUGHOUT THE RECOVERY AND LANDING.
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 Piper PA-17 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED APPROX 2 MI NE OF SAUK-PRAIRIE APT. THE PILOTS OF THE CESSNA WERE IN A CLIMBING RIGHT DEPARTURE TURN AT APPROX 1600 FT MSL HEADING APPROX 120 DEG WHEN A COLLSION OCCURRED WITH A PIPER HEADING APPROX 270 DEG AND DESCENDING. ONE PILOT IN THE CESSNA WAS WEARING AN INSTRUMENT HOOD. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER WAS FLYING INTO THE SETTING SUN. ONE WITNESS SAW THE PIPER MAKE A SHARP EVASIVE TURN JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOTS OF THE CESSN DID NOT SEE THEPIPER UNTIL AFTER THE COLLSION. FOLLOWING THE COLLSION THE PILOT OF THE PIPER LOST CONTROL OF HIS AIRCRAFT AND CRASHED. THE PILOTS IN THE CESSN LANDED SAFELY BACK AT SAUK-PRAIRIE EVEN THOUGH 3 FT 4 INCHES OF THE RIGHT WING AND 4 FT 4 INCHES OF THE RIGHT AILERON WERE MISSING. NEARLY FULL LEFT AILERON WAS REQUIRED THROUGHOUT THE RECOVERY AND LANDING.
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 R182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 3,850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 385 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1984; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-L3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: MSN Madison WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-17 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 125 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental A658 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.