Do Most Wisconsin Plane Crashes Happen Outside Major Hubs?

Wisconsin Aviation Accidents Report: 2016–2025

Aviation accidents are serious events that can leave people with injuries, loss, and difficult questions about what happens next. This report by our plane crash lawyers reviews Wisconsin airport accident data from 2016 through 2025 using information from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) census of U.S. civil aviation accidents.

The report shows a clear pattern and contrasts the accident rates among Wisconsin’s eight commercial service airports versus the 90 general aviation airports.

Wisconsin’s Airport System

Wisconsin’s aviation network supports travel, commerce, emergency access, and local mobility across the state. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the state supports:

• 8 commercial service airports
• 90 public-use general aviation airports

Commercial-use airports primarily handle scheduled airline services for passengers and cargo, while general aviation airports cater to private flights, recreational activities, and non-commercial operations.

This structure shows that Wisconsin’s airport system is much broader than its commercial passenger airports alone. Commercial hubs are important, but a large share of aviation activity takes place across the public-use general aviation network.

Commercial Service Airports in WI

• Appleton International Airport (ATW)
• Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB)
• Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA)
• Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU)
• Dane County Regional Airport (MSN)
• La Crosse Regional Airport (LSE)
• Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE)
• Rhinelander–Oneida County Airport (RHI)

Review of Wisconsin Aviation Accident Data

The numbers show that most reported aviation events in Wisconsin occurred outside commercial service airports. Over the 2016 to 2025 period:

• Commercial service airports: 10 events
• All other airports: 164 events

Using those figures, commercial service airports accounted for about 5.7% of reported events, while all other airports accounted for about 94.3%.

This contrast is important. Commercial airports often receive the most public attention, but the data shows that the large majority of reported incidents took place elsewhere in the state’s aviation network. The takeaway is that the accident picture in Wisconsin is shaped mainly by operations outside major airline hubs.

Source: National Transportation Safety Board. “Census of US Civil Aviation Accidents.” Accessed January 6, 2026.

Where Most Incidents Occur

Most incidents in Wisconsin occur outside commercial hubs, and the data strongly supports that conclusion. With 164 events at other airports compared with 10 at commercial service airports, the broader non-commercial airport system accounts for nearly all reported events in this review period.

This does not mean commercial airports are unimportant. It means they represent only one part of the state’s aviation activity. When people think about aviation risk, they often first think about large passenger airports. But in Wisconsin, the reported accident pattern is tied much more closely to the wider airport network.

The practical takeaway is that any meaningful discussion of aviation accidents in Wisconsin should include the state’s smaller public-use airports, not just its commercial hubs.

Accidents at Wisconsin’s Smaller Airfields

While a major commercial hub might report only one or two accidents over a decade, some smaller municipal airfields see them more frequently. For example, between 2016 and 2025:

• Wittman Regional Airport: 29 accidents
• East Troy Municipal Airport: 5 accidents
• Hartford Municipal Airport: 5 accidents

After a Plane Crash

The aftermath of a plane crash can be overwhelming. People may be left dealing with injuries, emotional trauma, lost income, medical bills, and uncertainty about what steps to take next. Even when the facts are still being reviewed, the impact on individuals and families can be immediate and lasting.

Support matters during that process. Getting clear information, understanding your options, and speaking with someone who can help you move forward can make a hard situation more manageable. Whether an incident happens at a larger airport or a smaller airfield, people affected by an aviation accident deserve answers and steady guidance.

Our Milwaukee personal injury lawyers are here to provide the expertise and compassionate support you need. We can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward resolving your case with confidence.