Dane Co Regional-Truax Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Madison, Wisconsin 53714
Sunday, March 6, 1994 18:48 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

DURING A NIGHT STRAIGHT IN APPROACH THE AIRPLANE UNDERSHOT THE INTENDED LANDING RUNWAY AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN ONE-QUARTER MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND STATED THAT HE FELT HE COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE ACCIDENT IF HE HAD FLOWN A TRAFFIC PATTERN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S POORLY PLANNED APPROACH AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER GLIDEPATH. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/6/1994
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1848
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City MADISON
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53714
Event Date Year 1994
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DANE CO REGIONAL-TRUAX
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MSN
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 130
Airport Elevation 862
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1851 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 310
Weather Observation Facility ID MSN
Elevation of weather observation facility 862
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1600
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 4
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 61
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 6 1994 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2216
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 6 2000 10:48AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2145T
NTSB Number CHI94LA098
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-140
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-140
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7125544
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WALZ, JOHN E.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7521 MARSHALL RD.
Aircraft Owner City COLUMBUS
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53925
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State I
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CGX
Departure City CHICAGO
Departure State IL
Departure Country
Departure Time 1745
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31
Runway Length 5846
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --