Eau Claire Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin 54729
Tuesady, April 9, 1991 13:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

TWO INSTRUMENT RATED PILOTS INTENDED A CHECKOUT IN MODEL FOR THE FIRST PILOT. TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING, LOW CEILINGS AND LOW VISIBILITY IN PRECIPITATION EXISTED OVER THE AREA. THE FIRST PILOT FILED AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN FOR A 30 MINUTE, LOCAL FLIGHT. AIRBORNE, FLIGHT TWICE AMENDED ITS CRUISE ALTITUDE, ITS DESTINATION TWICE AND ARRIVED BACK AT ORIGIN FOR APPROACH. THE PILOT REPORTED HAVING 'QUITE A BIT OF ICE' BEFORE CLEARANCE FOR HIS APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT, CONFIGURED TO LAND, FLEW INTO TREES UPRIGHT, IN A SHALLOW DESCENT WHILE CIRCLING FROM THE APPROACH COURSE TO THE OPPOSITE RUNWAY. ENGINE CONTROLS WERE FULL FORWARD AND POWER WAS EVIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE FIRST PILOT'S CONTINUED FLIGHT IN KNOWN ADVERSE WEATHER. FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT WERE THE FIRST PILOT'S POOR WEATHER EVALUATION, THE SECOND PILOT'S COMPLACENCY AND THE FIRST PILOT'S SELF INDUCED PRESSURE TO COMPLETE A CHECKOUT IN MODEL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/9/1991
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1315
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City CHIPPEWA FALLS
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54729
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EAU CLAIRE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID EAU
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 2
Degrees magnetic from airport 360
Airport Elevation 907
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1252 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 1
Weather Observation Facility ID EAU
Elevation of weather observation facility 907
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Obscured
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) 1
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 0
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 0
Intensity of Precipitation Light
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1365
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 44066
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 9:43AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8012T
NTSB Number CHI91FA126
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name BEECH
Aircraft Model F.33A
Aircraft Series Identifier F.33A
Aircraft Serial Number CE 1504
Certified Max Gross Weight 3450
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 2 1991 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 64
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TRUCKALINE SUSPENSION CENTERS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1420-B HILLCREST PARKWAY
Aircraft Owner City ALTOONA
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54720
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TRUCKALINE SUSPENSION CENTERS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 1420-B HILLCREST PARKWAY
Operator City ALTOONA
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 54720
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 Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1234
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach - circling (IFR)
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 4
Runway Length 7301
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --