L. O. Simenstad Minicipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Osceola, Wisconsin 54020
Saturday, August 28, 1999 18:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said it took 2 hours to start the right engine, and during takeoff the right engine lost power. A witness saw the pilot and the airplane on the ramp before the accident. The witness stated that the pilot said the starter was inoperative for the right engine and it would not start the right engine. The witness saw the accident airplane going down runway 10 with the right engine not running. He had a clear view of the first 700 feet of runway 10 and that the right engine's propeller blades were 'stationary' at the '4 and 10 o'clock positions.' He said that the airplane's left engine 'revved' for takeoff and the airplane rolled down the runway. He said that the airplane moved to the right side of the runway during the takeoff roll, that he noticed the airplane's power was reduced, that the airplane was realigned with the runway's centerline, and that the left engine 'revved' up again. Examination of the accident scene revealed three trails were found in the terrain past the paved departure end of the runway leading up to a telephone switching box and a berm.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper preflight decision to attempt a takeoff with one engine inoperative.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1830
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City OSCEOLA
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54020
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport L. O. SIMENSTAD MINICIPAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID OEO
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 903
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 221
Weather Observation Facility ID MSP
Elevation of weather observation facility 841
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 769
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 29 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1025
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 11:49AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6592Y
NTSB Number CHI99LA316
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-23-250
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-23-250
Aircraft Serial Number 27-4389
Certified Max Gross Weight 5200
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 6
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 15 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 4185
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN JAMES WATTS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1204 NAMEKAGON LOOP
Aircraft Owner City HUDSON
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54016
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code OEO
Departure City
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 21D
Destination City ST PAUL
Destination State MN
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 6
Runway Length 3862
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --