Cessna 172 accident near Hudson, Wisconsin, November 6, 1994
On November 6, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N734LJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hudson, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
inadequate maintenance (major overhaul) by maintenance personnel which resulted in the total loss of engine power. Soft terrain was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hudson, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N734LJ · registry record · serial 17268935
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 2,500 FEET WHEN HE FELT INCREASING VIBRATION IN THE AIRPLANE, THEN THE ENGINE 'FROZE'. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A FRESHLY PLOWED (SOFT) FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER DURING THE LANDING ROLL. POSTACCIDENT ENGINE TEARDOWN REVEALED THE EXHAUST VALVE ON THE #4 CYLINDER HAD LOOSENED AND FALLEN INTO THE CYLINDER. THE AIRPLANE HAD FLOWN 6 HOURS SINCE THE MOST RECENT ANNUAL INSPECTION, AND 77 HOURS SINCE MAJOR OVERHAUL ON THE ENGINE.
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: 825 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,133 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1994; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21D Lake Elmo MN at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 21D
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N734LJ the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.