Cessna 172 accident near Madison, Wisconsin, July 14, 1987
On July 14, 1987 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N2501L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Wisconsin (Madison Truax Field). It was an instructional 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
- July 14, 1987 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Wisconsin · Madison Truax Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2501L · no longer on the register · serial 172-55701
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) & PVT PLT (STUDENT) WERE ON A RENTER'S CHECK-OUT FLT TO FAMILIARIZE THE STUDENT WITH A CESSNA 172. WHILE PRACTICING LANDINGS, TOWER PSNL PROVIDED A WINDSHEAR ALERT. DRG AN APCH TO LAND, THE ACFT WENT INTO A HIGH SINK RATE OVER THE APCH END OF THE RWY & TOUCHED DOWN HARD. A GO-AROUND WAS MADE, & AFTER TOWER PSNL CHECKED THE GEAR, AN UNEVENTFUL LANDING WAS MADE. DURING A SUBSEQUENTLY INSPN OF THE ACFT, DAMAGE WAS FOUND, WHICH INCLUDED BUCKLING OF THE FIREWALL & NOSE GEAR SUPPORT BEAMS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,260 hours in all; 1,801 in this make and model; 129 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,844 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1987; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 52C Cottage Grove WI at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,846 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from MSN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.