Beech B35 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Sussex, Wisconsin, May 2, 1985
On May 2, 1985 at about 1:58 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech B35 (N5182C) and Cessna 152 (N6464L), were involved in a mid-air collision near Sussex, Wisconsin. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. 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
- May 2, 1985 · about 1:58 pm local time
- Place
- Sussex, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech B35 · all B35s on the register
- Registration
- N5182C · no longer on the register · serial D2464
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6464L · no longer on the register · serial 15284402
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech B35 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS 1ST SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT IN A CESSNA 152, N6464L. AFTER TAKING OFF AT THE BROOKFIELD ARPT (ELEV 850 FT), HE HAD CLIMBED TO 2000 FT MSL AND WAS HEADING 350 DEG WHEN HE SAW A BEECH B35 (BONANZA), N5182C, CONVERGING FROM HIS RIGHT. THE STUDENT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION, BUT THE PROP & RIGHT WING TIP OF THE BEECH B35 HIT THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, RIGHT WING ROOT & RIGHT FLAP OF THE CESSNA. THE COMMERCIALLY RATED PLT OF THE BEECH B35 WAS CRUISING WESTBOUND AT 2000 FT MSL. HE DID NOT SEE THE CESSNA UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLYDAMAGED, BUT BOTH CONTINUED FLYING & WERE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PLT WAS ON HIS 1ST SOLO X-COUNTRY FLT IN A CESSNA 152, N6464L. AFTER TAKING OFF AT THE BROOKFIELD ARPT (ELEV 850 FT), HE HAD CLIMBED TO 2000 FT MSL & WAS HEADING 350 DEG WHEN HE SAW A BEECH B35 (BONANZA), N5182C, CONVERGING FROM HIS RIGHT. THE STUDENT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION, BUT THE PROP & RIGHT WING TIP OF THE BEECH B35 HIT THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, RIGHT WING ROOT & RIGHT FLAP OF THE CESSNA. THE COMMERCIALLY RATED PLT OF THE BEECH B35 WAS CRUISING WESTBOUND AT 2000 FT MSL. HE DID NOT SEE THE CESSNA UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLYDAMAGED, BUT BOTH CONTINUED FLYING & WERE LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 Beech B35 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,840 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,464 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 1985; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E-225-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKE Milwaukee WI at 1:50 pm
- Destination: 3VM Vermillion SD
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from MKE, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 71 hours in all; 65 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,626 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 41 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 02C Brookfield WI at 1:44 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- 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.
Other NTSB records under N5182C 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.