Cessna 172 N738AP

Summary

On 27 October 1990 at about 23:40 local time, a Cessna 172 registered N738AP, operated by Global Air Inc., was involved in an accident near Portage, Wisconsin, United States. 3 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 October 1990 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Portage, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

43.5409, -89.4599

Aircraft

Cessna 172

Registration

N738AP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Global Air Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sandwich → Antigo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night/Bright

NTSB number

CHI91LA017

2 people had minor injuries.

THE PIC BECAME LOST AND DISORIENTATED AND PERFORMED A PREMATURE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PLT SAID THAT DURING A NIGHT CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT, AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OCCURRED. AFTER TRYING TO FIND A NEARBY AIRPORT, AND CIRCLING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, A PRECAUTIONARY LDG WAS ATTEMPTED, WITHOUT FLAPS OR LIGHTS DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL FAILURE, ON A ROAD WHICH RESULTED IN A NOSE OVER. POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRPORT BEACON WAS INOPERABLE AND BRIGHTLY LIGHTED CONSTRUCTION ADJACENT THE AIRPORT MADE IT DIFFICULT TO LOCATE. LOOSE CONNECTIONS WERE FOUND ON THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THE ALTERNATOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.