Cessna 172H accident near Whitewater, Wisconsin, August 6, 1985
On August 6, 1985 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N8229L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Whitewater, Wisconsin (Gutzmer'S Twin Oaks airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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
- August 6, 1985 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Whitewater, Wisconsin · Gutzmer'S Twin Oaks · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N8229L · registry record · serial 17256429
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT HE PLANNED TO USE MAX PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF PROCEDURES OUT OF THE OWNER'S MANUAL FOR THE TAKEOFF. AFTER BRAKE RELEASE THE ACFT BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE SOD RWY.ACCELERATION CONTINUED, BUT ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HIS AIRSPEED INCREASE SEEMED SLUGGISH. AT 60 MPH AND 3/4 OF THE WAY DOWN THE RWY HE BEGAN ABORT PROCEDURES. BEFORE HE COULD GET THE ACFT STOPPED, IT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RWY AND INTO A DIRT EMBANKMENT. THE PLT LATER STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE USED SOME KIND OF SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF, BUT THE OWNER'S MANUAL ONLY DESCRIBED NORMAL AND MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE TAKEOFF TECHNIQUES. THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON RWY 18, WHICH IS 2500 FT LONG. AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 82 DEGS F.
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: 161 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 110 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 17, 1985; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSM Oshkosh WI at 6:00 pm
- Destination: WI09 Whitewater WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 140 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.