Cessna 152 accident near Superior, Wisconsin, July 26, 1999
On July 26, 1999 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Cessna 152, registered N68268, was substantially damaged in an accident near Superior, Wisconsin (Bong airport). It was an instructional 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
the student pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors associated with the accident were the gusty wind condition, the student's lack of experience, and the soft terrain encountered.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1999 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Superior, Wisconsin · Bong · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N68268 · no longer on the register · serial 15282220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot made three touch and go landings on runway 31 with a flight instructor prior to the instructor exiting the airplane. The student then completed four solo touch and go landings during which he began to 'encounter heavier winds.' Following the fifth landing, as he applied power to initiate another takeoff, a gust of wind caught the airplane and it veered to the right. He reported that he applied left rudder and the airplane turned abruptly to the left. The airplane continued off the runway where it contacted soft terrain and nosed over. The winds reported at 12 miles northwest of the airport, 5 minutes prior to the accident, were from 320 degrees at 10 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The student pilot had a total of 17 hours of flight experience.
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: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SUW at 9:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 13 knots, gusting 19
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from DLH, 12 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.