Cessna 172P accident near Superior, Wisconsin, August 17, 1989
On August 17, 1989 at about 2:36 pm local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N98584, was substantially damaged in an accident near Superior, Wisconsin (Richard I. Bong airport). It was a public-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 1989 · about 2:36 pm local time
- Place
- Superior, Wisconsin · Richard I. Bong · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N98584 · registry record · serial 17216316
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND DRIFTED OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ASPHALT RUNWAY WHILE DOING TOUCH AND GO'S. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED A GO-AROUND FROM THE SOD ADJCENT TO THE RUNWAY. WHILE THE AIRPLANE WAS ACCELERATING, IT COLLIDED WITH A DITCH AND NOSED OVER.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 410 hours in all; 334 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,439 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 15, 1989; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Runway 13, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 5 knots, gusting 7
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI89FA174.