Cessna 172K accident near Berlin, Wisconsin, October 21, 1984
On October 21, 1984 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172K, registered N46407, was substantially damaged in an accident near Berlin, Wisconsin (Private 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 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
- October 21, 1984 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Berlin, Wisconsin · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N46407 · registry record · serial 1725746
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A GRASS STRIP THAT IS PRIENTED NORTH AND SOUTH. HE DESCRIBED THE GRASS AS BEING 'TOO LONG' AND THE WIND WAS FROM THE WEST. THE PLT OVER ROTATED THE ACFT TO RAISE THE NOSE WHEEL CLEAR OF THE GRASS AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. THE TAKEOFF WAS ABORTED, THE PLT APPLIED EXCESSIVE BRAKING AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER WHEN THE NOSE WHEEL RAN INTO SOFT TERRAIN.
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: 872 hours in all; 872 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 785 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 909 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 18, 1983
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2O (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Berlin WI at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; not recorded at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from OSH, 32 miles away
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.