Cessna 152 accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin, May 13, 1987
On May 13, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N5286P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin (Waukesha County airport). It was an instructional 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
- May 13, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Waukesha, Wisconsin · Waukesha County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5286P · registry record · serial 15284907
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE ENTERED DOWNWIND FOR RWY 18 AND THE APCH 'SEEMED NORMAL.' THE PLT STATED THAT HE 'SLIPPED INTO WIND' ON FINAL APCH AND EXTENDED TEN DEGREES OF FLAPS, BUT WHEN HE STRAIGHTENED OUT, THE ACFT 'VEERED' TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY. ACCORDING TO THE PLT, HE TRIED TO RECOVER USING THE RUDDERS, HOWEVER, THE ACFT LANDED 'HEAVILY' ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY AND THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. THE ACFT SKIDDED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO REST IN THE GRASS ALONGSIDE THE RWY.
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 131 hours in all; 14 in the last 90 days; 81 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,000 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Trans Air CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: C59 Delavan WI at 5:03 pm
- Destination: UES Waukesha WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 3,599 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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 N5286P 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.