See Narrative Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Springbrook, Wisconsin 54875
Sunday, January 13, 1991 13:30 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A COMMERCIAL PILOT IN A TAILWHEEL AIRPLANE WITH SKIS ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF FROM A 1200 FOOT LONG CORNFIELD COVERED WITH 8 INCHES OF LOOSE SNOW. THE GROUND RUN WAS PARALLEL TO THE FURROWS WITH WIND AT 14 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 21 KNOTS, DIRECTLY BEHIND THE AIRPLANE. THE PILOT'S STATEMENT INDICATES THE ENGINE LOST POWER 2/3 OF THE WAY DOWN THE FIELD, AND HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN ACROSS THE FURROWS BEFORE ENCOUNTERING A FENCE ON THE FIELD BOUNDARY. THE AIRPLANE ROLLED AND NOSED OVER TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE TURN. NO DISCREPANCY WAS FOUND ON THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE ASIDE FROM ACCIDENT DAMAGE. THE OWNER, WHO SAW THE ACCIDENT, STATED THE TAILWHEEL DRAGGED THE LENGTH OF THE GROUND RUN AND HE HEARD FULL POWER FROM COMMENCEMENT OF THE TAKEOFF TO NOSE OVER.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH A STRONG GUSTY TAILWIND.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/13/1991
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City SPRINGBROOK
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54875
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SEE NARRATIVE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1100
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1329 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID RIE
Elevation of weather observation facility 1138
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 500
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) 1
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
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 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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 293
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 43388
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:12AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N87867
NTSB Number CHI91LA072
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 J3C-65
Aircraft Series Identifier J3C-65
Aircraft Serial Number 15485
Certified Max Gross Weight 1220
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name KRIS G. WELLS
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 158
Aircraft Owner City BARRON
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54812
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name KRIS G. WELLS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P.O. BOX 158
Operator City BARRON
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 54812
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 1200
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --