Rainbow Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Franklin, Wisconsin 53130
Thursday, April 5, 1990 11:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT, HE RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT AND ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR RUNWAY 27 (2,155' X 33', ASPHALT). WINDS WERE REPORTED TO BE OUT OF 320 DEGREES AT 13 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 20 KNOTS. THE PILOT DESCRIBED HIS APPROACH TO LANDING AND TOUCHDOWN AS 'SMOOTH AND NORMAL.' HOWEVER, HE REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROLLING OUT 'A STRONG GUST CAUGHT THE AIRPLANE.' THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ONTO THE GROUND (SOFT SOD) ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER, COMING TO A STOP INVERTED ON THE GROUND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS BY THE PILOT, AND HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN RUNWAY ALIGNMENT DURING THE ATTEMPTED GO-AROUND (ABORTED LANDING). THE WIND CONDITIONS AND SOFT TERRAIN WERE RELATED FACTORS.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/5/1990
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1140
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City FRANKLIN
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53130
Event Date Year 1990
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport RAINBOW
Event Location Nearest Airport ID Y78
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 685
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1150 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID MKE
Elevation of weather observation facility 723
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 7
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3800
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
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) -7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 89
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 5 1990 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40660
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 4:53PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3876J
NTSB Number CHI90LA107
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 150G
Aircraft Series Identifier 150G
Aircraft Serial Number 15065176
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 5 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 58
Airframe Hours 5287
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BALES CORP.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8875 GREENMEADOW LANE
Aircraft Owner City GREENDALE
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53129
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BALES CORP.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 8875 GREEMEADOW LANE
Operator City GREENDALE
Operator State WI
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 53129
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 1045
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 Landing
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 27
Runway Length 2155
Runway Width 33
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --