Cessna 152 accident near Broadhead, Wisconsin, April 29, 1985
On April 29, 1985 at about 11:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N25227, was substantially damaged in an accident near Broadhead, Wisconsin (Brodhead airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
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 29, 1985 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Broadhead, Wisconsin · Brodhead · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25227 · no longer on the register · serial 15280542
- 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 DURING ARRIVAL, HE ENTERED A TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR WHAT HE THOUGHT, ACCORDING TO HIS DIRECTIONAL GYRO, WAS RWY 9. RWY 9 WAS 2500 FT LONG; HOWEVER, HE LANDED ON RWY 3, WHICH WAS 1520 FT LONG. DURING THE LANDING, THE PLT WAS UNABLE TO STOP ON THE RWY. AFTER IT WENT OFF THE END, IT HIT A CONCRETE BLOCK WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE IN THE GRASS. PRESUMABLY, THE PLT DID NOT X-CHECK HIS GYRO WITH THE MAGNETIC COMPASS.
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: 73 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 44 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,404 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 23, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: JVL Janesville WI at 11:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 1,520 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.