Cessna 172D accident near South Wayne, Wisconsin, September 4, 1999
On September 4, 1999 at about 5:18 pm local time, a Cessna 172D, registered N2972U, was substantially damaged in an accident near South Wayne, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's improper selection of an emergency field and failure to maintain clearance from the trees. The cause of the loss of engine power was not determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 4, 1999 · about 5:18 pm local time
- Place
- South Wayne, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172D 172 · all 172Ds on the register
- Registration
- N2972U · no longer on the register · serial 17250572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft was in cruise at 2000 feet msl when the engine started missing. The pilot selected an emergency field, but the plane was too high, and the pilot then selected another field to make the emergency landing to. The aircraft struck trees while on approach to that field.
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
- Last flight review: January 22, 1989
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Teledyne Cont O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IL12 Apple River IL at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.