Piper PA-38-112 accident near Brookfield, Wisconsin, April 5, 1992
On April 5, 1992 at about 5:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-38-112, registered N6350A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brookfield, Wisconsin (Capitol Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT (CFI) TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT FOR LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITION, THE EXCESSIVE DESCENT RATE THAT DEVELOPED ON FINAL APPROACH, AND THE CFI'S DELAY IN TAKING REMEDIAL ACTION TO CORRECT THE SITUATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 5, 1992 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Brookfield, Wisconsin · Capitol Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N6350A · no longer on the register · serial 38-78A0393
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR (CFI) AND STUDENT PLT WERE PRACTICING PATTERN WORK. THE CFI TOOK CONTROL OF THE ACFT TO DEMONSTRATE A SHORT FIELD LANDING. HE RPRTD THAT JUST BEFORE REACHING THE RWY THRESHOLD, AN EXCESSIVE SINK RATE DEVELOPED FROM WHAT HE BELIEVED WAS A DOWN BURST. HE INITIATED A GO-AROUND, BUT THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON A GRAVEL EMBANKMENT BEFORE REACHING THE PAVED RWY. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF & THE ACFT NOSED OVER. THE CFI HAD A TOTAL FLT TIME OF ABOUT 430 HRS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 323 as pilot in command; 52 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,982 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 24, 1992; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 3,555 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from UES, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.