Cessna A152 accident near Middleton, Wisconsin, July 9, 1986
On July 9, 1986 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna A152, registered N761UA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Middleton, Wisconsin (Morey airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. 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
- July 9, 1986 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Middleton, Wisconsin · Morey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A152 · all A152s on the register
- Registration
- N761UA · registry record · serial A15220986
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PRACTICING SOFT FIELD TAKEOFFS ON A GRASS STRIP. HE ABORTED HIS FIRST ATTEMPT TO MAKE AN INTERSECTION TAKEOFF. ON HIS SECOND TRY, HE THOUGHT HE COULD GET AIRBORNE, BUT DID NOT. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT NEAR THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY. AFTERWARDS, THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SHOULD HAVE USED PROPER SOFT FIELD TAKEOFF TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY.
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: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 24 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,539 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 7, 1986; 25 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,260 ft by 135 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from MSN, 8 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.
Other NTSB records under N761UA 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.