Fond Du Lac County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin 54935
Friday, March 13, 1998 13:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane took off on runway 18 with winds reported to be 190 degrees at 14 knots with gusts to 21 knots. The pilot said that during initial climb to 200 feet AGL, he encountered turbulence and was unable to maintain flight. He made a precautionary landing in a cornfield about one-quarter mile off the end of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's misjudged weather evaluation . Factors were turbulence, the pilot's inability to attain a proper climb rate, unsuitable terrain encountered in the landing area, and crops.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/13/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City FOND DU LAC
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54935
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport FOND DU LAC COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FLD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 809
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID FLD
Elevation of weather observation facility 809
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0.75
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 190
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 21
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 482
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Mar 13 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1658
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 16 2001 11:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N777MX
NTSB Number CHI98LA105
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aero Commander
Aircraft Model 680FLP
Aircraft Series Identifier 680FLP
Aircraft Serial Number 1507-20
Certified Max Gross Weight 8500
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 9
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
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 AFK CORP
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 520
Aircraft Owner City RIPON
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54971
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
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code FLD
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code DCA
Destination City WASHINGTON
Destination State DC
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2001 6:29PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 5940
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --