Cessna 172MM accident near Middleton, Wisconsin, March 28, 1986
On March 28, 1986 at about 9:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172MM, registered N20866, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleton, Wisconsin (Morey 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
- March 28, 1986 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Middleton, Wisconsin · Morey Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172MM · all 172MMs on the register
- Registration
- N20866 · no longer on the register · serial 17263860
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE 94 HOUR PRIVATE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A LANDING WITH A CROSSWIND COMPONENT OF 90 DEGREES AND A WIND VELOCITY OF 15 TO 18 KTS GUSTING TO 22 KTS WHEN HE TOUCHED DOWN WITH THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR & 2 FEET OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR CAME DOWN IN STANDING WATER OFF THE RUNWAY WITH THE AIRCRAFT VEERING RIGHT AND NOSING OVER AND COMING TO REST ON ITS BACK IN 8 TO 12 INCHES OF WATER.
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: 94 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 67 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,202 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 117 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C59 Delavan WI at 8:50 pm
- Destination: C29 Middleton WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 2,975 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 22 knots, gusting 29
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from MSN, 9 miles away
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.