What happened
On or about August 14, 1990, a Cessna 172 departed West Bend, Wisconsin, on a flight intended for Washington Island, Wisconsin. The aircraft did not arrive at its destination and was presumed to have crashed in Lake Michigan near Kewaunee, Wisconsin.
The bodies of the deceased pilot and passenger were later washed ashore. Additionally, a piece of wreckage believed to be from the Cessna 172 was recovered from the shoreline. The specific circumstances surrounding the accident could not be determined due to the lack of recoverable data or definitive evidence regarding the final moments of the flight.
Findings
The investigation was limited by the absence of the main wreckage and flight recorders. While the pilot and passenger were deceased, the exact cause of the crash remained undetermined. No further mechanical analysis or weather data could be conclusively linked to the event beyond the presumption of a lake impact.