Piper PA-28-140 accident near Brookfield, Wisconsin, November 21, 1992
On November 21, 1992 at about 7:43 am local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N1892J, was destroyed in an accident near Brookfield, Wisconsin (Capitol Drive airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
SPATIAL DISORIENTATION, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER GLIDEPATH.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 21, 1992 · about 7:43 am local time
- Place
- Brookfield, Wisconsin · Capitol Drive · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N1892J · no longer on the register · serial 28-24337
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT RETURNING FROM A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT CANCELLED HER IFR FLIGHT PLAN AND PROCEEDED VISUALLY TO HER DESTINATION, AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE RUNWAY USED AT THE DESTINATION AIRPORT WAS NARROW, SLOPED UPHILL, HAD A DISPLACED THRESHOLD, LOW INTENSITY RUNWAY LIGHTING, NO VASI, AND WAS SURROUNDED BY DARK FEATURELESS TERRAIN. THE AIRPLANE WAS FOUND THE FOLLOWING DAY IN A SWAMP ONE-QUARTER MILE FROM THE APPROACH END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT HAD DESCENDED INTO TREES, AND CRASHED IN THE SWAMP.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 347 hours in all; 171 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,884 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 2, 1992; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brookfield Pilot Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: GRB Green Bay WI at 5:50 am
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 3,555 ft by 45 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 am from MKE, 12 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.