Cessna 172P accident near Hayward, Wisconsin, November 9, 1990
On November 9, 1990 at about 7:22 am local time, a Cessna 172P, registered N64406, was destroyed in an accident near Hayward, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S INTENTIONAL FLIGHT INTO KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 1990 · about 7:22 am local time
- Place
- Hayward, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N64406 · no longer on the register · serial 17275556
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PRIVATE NON-INSTRUMENT RATED PILOT RECEIVED A 'VFR NOT RECOMMENDED' WEATHER BRIEFING FOR THE PROPOSED FLIGHT INCLUDING THE FORECAST FOR WIDESPREAD IMC CONDITIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED ENCOUNTERING SNOW SHOWERS DURING THE NIGHT FLIGHT, HOWEVER DOES NOT RECALL DETAILS OF THE IMPACT. HE MADE ONE INFLIGHT CALL TO A FSS INQUIRING ABOUT THE WEATHER. IMPACT SCARS INDICATE CONTROLLED FLIGHT INTO THE TREES AND TERRAIN.
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: 184 hours in all; 86 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MQT Marquette MI at 5:00 am
- Destination: MIC Crystal MN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast; not recorded
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:20 pm from MQT, 160 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.