Cessna 152 accident near Zenda, Wisconsin, January 19, 1992
On January 19, 1992 at about 5:50 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68430, was substantially damaged in an accident near Zenda, Wisconsin (Private airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS NOT MAINTAINED BY THE PILOT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: A GUSTY SURFACE WIND CONDITION AND LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 1992 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Zenda, Wisconsin · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68430 · no longer on the register · serial 15282267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID DURING THE TAKEOFF, A GUST OF WIND CAUSED THE RIGHT WING TO DROP AND CONTACT THE TERRAIN. THE ACFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT, CARTWHEELED AFTER STRIKING AN EMBANKMENT, THEN CAME TO REST AGAINST A TREE. THE SURFACE WINDS WERE 15 TO 20 KNOTS AND IN LINE WITH THE RUNWAY.
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: 56 hours in all; 47 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 13 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Beloit Aviation
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 17 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 5:45 pm from JVL, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.