Cessna 140 accident near Howard, Wisconsin, June 9, 1992
On June 9, 1992 at about 1:23 am local time, a Cessna 140, registered N2776N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Howard, Wisconsin. 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
AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND AND A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM CONTAMINATED FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1992 · about 1:23 am local time
- Place
- Howard, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 140 · all 140s on the register
- Registration
- N2776N · no longer on the register · serial 13037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE LOST ENGINE POWER DURING INITIAL CLIMB FROM A PRIVATE LANDING STRIP. THE AIRPLANE LANDED ON A HIGHWAY AND COLLIDED WITH A SIGN DURING THE LANDING ROLL. THE PILOT TOLD INSPECTORS FROM THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) THAT THE ENGINE HAD STARTED MISSING DURING TAKEOFF AND THEN STOPPED COMPLETELY APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. HE TOLD THEM HE SWITCHED FUEL TANKS AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. FAA INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THEY VERIFIED MECHANICAL CONTINUITY THROUGHOUT THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM. THERE WERE NO DEFECTS DISCOVERED IN THE ENGINE. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED SEDIMENT AND FOREIGN MATERIAL IN THE GASCOLATOR BOWL.
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: 420 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 1991; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 1:20 am
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 280° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.