Cessna 172H accident near Browntown, Wisconsin, April 1, 1992
On April 1, 1992 at about 5:17 pm local time, a Cessna 172H, registered N3884R, was destroyed in an accident near Browntown, Wisconsin. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION AND THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE SNOW CONDITIONS, AN INADEQUATE WEATHER EVALUATION BY BOTH THE STUDENT AND INSTRUCTOR, OVER CONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY, INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION, VFR FLIGHT INTO IMC CONDITIONS, AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE ON BEHALF OF THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 1, 1992 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Browntown, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N3884R · no longer on the register · serial 172-55384
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT HAD BEEN PLANNING TO TAKE HIS LONG SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. ON THE ACCIDENT DATE THE STUDENT OBTAINED A COMPUTER WEATHER BRIEFING. THE WEATHER FOR THE ROUTE OF FLIGHT WAS FORECASTED TO HAVE A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. WEATHER AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT WAS LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS DURING THE TIME OF THE BRIEFING AND PREDEPARTURE DISCUSSION THE STUDENT HAD WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR. THE STUDENT DEPARTED ON THE SOLO CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT DURING VERY LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS. APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 MINUTES AFTER THE STUDENT DEPARTED ON HIS FLIGHT, THE INSTRUCTOR CALLED HIM ON THE RADIO. THE INSTRUCTOR ASKED THE STUDENT HOW THE WEATHER WAS. THE STUDENT REPLIED THE VISIBILITY WAS THREE MILES. SHORTLY AFTER THIS CONVERSATION THE STUDENT CALLED THE AIRPORT AND STATED HE WAS LOST AND HAVING DIFFICULTY. THE AIRPORT MANAGER, A NON-PILOT, TOLD THE STUDENT TO MAKE A 180 DEGREE TURN AND RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. A GROUND WITNESS STATED HE HEARD AN AIRPLANE FLY OVER HEAD TWO TIMES DURING VERY HEAVY SNOW SHOWERS. DURING THE SECOND PASS THE WITNESS STATED HE HEARD A VACILLATING ENGINE SOUND AND A LOUD CRASH SOUND. THE WRECKAGE WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AFTER THE WITNESS HEARD THE ENGINE SOUNDS.
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: 32 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 12 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,331 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 7, 1991; 27 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C33 Monroe WI at 4:55 pm
- Destination: RST Rochester MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: overcast at 800 ft; not recorded at 800 ft
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.