Amateur-built 412 accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin, July 28, 1989
On July 28, 1989 at about 1:59 pm local time, a amateur-built 412, registered N412RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waukesha, Wisconsin. It was a personal 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 PLT BECAME LOST/DISORIENTED AND ALLOWED FUEL EXHAUSTION TO OCCUR BEFORE ACCOMPLISHING REMEDIAL ACTION. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE ADVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND THE ROAD SIGN AND VEHICLES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1989 · about 1:59 pm local time
- Place
- Waukesha, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 412
- Registration
- N412RC · no longer on the register · serial 85412001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 23, 1989; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFD Sioux Falls SD at 11:06 am
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft; ovct
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:45 pm from UES, 3 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.