Cessna 172 accident near Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, January 20, 1995
On January 20, 1995 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Cessna 172, registered N84603, was destroyed in an accident near Cottage Grove, Wisconsin (Blackhawk airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN/RUNWAY FOR LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND, ICY RUNWAY CONDITION, AND SNOWBANK AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 20, 1995 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cottage Grove, Wisconsin · Blackhawk · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N84603 · no longer on the register · serial 17258545
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT LOCAL WINDS WERE FROM 030 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, SO HE ELECTED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 9. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED AN ICY RUNWAY CONDITION AND WENT SIDEWAYS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT BY THE TIME HE GOT THE AIRPLANE STRAIGHTENED OUT, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH RUNWAY REMAINING TO GO AROUND. THE AIRPLANE THEN TRAVELED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HIT A SNOWBANK, AND NOSED OVER. ABOUT 9 MILES EAST, THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 330 DEGREES AT 15 KNOTS.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 383 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 54 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 176 as pilot in command; 31 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 1994
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNR Lone Rock WI at 6:30 pm
- Destination: 52C
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,129 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,900 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 27°F (-3°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:20 pm from MDS, 9 miles away
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.