Cessna 170A accident near Brookfield, Wisconsin, August 4, 1989
On August 4, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Cessna 170A, registered N9762A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brookfield, Wisconsin (Capitol airport). 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S FAILURE TO TAKE PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTION AFTER ENCOUNTERING A WIND GUST ON LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brookfield, Wisconsin · Capitol
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 170A · all 170As on the register
- Registration
- N9762A · no longer on the register · serial 19223
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE LANDING, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A WIND GUST, ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN, LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AND RAN OFF THE RUNWAY INTO A NEIGHBORING FIELD.
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: 275 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,823 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 6, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-145-2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 02C at 6:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,555 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MKE, 15 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.