Cessna 177 accident near Verona, Wisconsin, October 5, 1987
On October 5, 1987 at about 4:25 pm local time, a Cessna 177, registered N3226T, was destroyed in an accident near Verona, Wisconsin (Verona 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
- October 5, 1987 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Verona, Wisconsin · Verona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3226T · no longer on the register · serial 17700562
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR LANDING ABORT FULL POWER WAS APPLIED AND FLAPS SELECTED TO THE FULL UP POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SETTLE AND A TURN TO THE LEFT WAS INITIATED. THE LEFT WING DROPPED ABRUPTLY, THE NOSE PITCHED DOWN AND A LEFT HAND ROTATION BEGAN. THIS ROTATION CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED INTO THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE SOLO STUDENT PILOT RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.
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: 40 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,610 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 2,275 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: D74 Sparta WI at 3:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 1,750 ft by 65 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 18 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from MSN, 12 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.
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.