Stevens Point Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
Sunday, February 12, 1989 14:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 'JUST AS THE MAIN GEAR TOUCHED (THE RUNWAY) THE AIRCRAFT TURNED TO THE LEFT AS IF THE LEFT BRAKE HAD LOCKED OR HAD BEEN PUSHED BY A STRONG LEFT CROSSWIND . . .' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT'S RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, FOLLOWED BY THE NOSE GEAR, THEN THE AIRCRAFT SKIDDED TO A STOP ON THE RUNWAY. WINDS AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT WERE REPORTED TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE RUNWAY AT ABOUT 8 KNOTS. A POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE LEFT WHEEL AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY REVEALED NO INDICATION OF A PRE-ACCIDENT MALFUNCTION. AN INSPECTION OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TRUSS ASSEMBLY INDICATED IT HAD FAILED IN OVERLOAD. NO PROGRESSIVE FAILURE WAS EVIDENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT GROUND SWERVE.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/12/1989
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City STEVENS POINT
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54481
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport STEVENS POINT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID STE
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 1110
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1345 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID AUW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1201
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 23
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 15
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 892
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Feb 12 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1500
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40404
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:28PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N16TP
NTSB Number CHI89LA050
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-28R-201
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28R-201
Aircraft Serial Number 28R-7837217
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 31 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 76
Airframe Hours 1165
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PLODZIEN, THOMAS J.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1904 W FULTON ST
Aircraft Owner City CHICAGO
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60612
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name PLODZIEN, THOMAS J.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1904 W. FULTON ST
Operator City CHICAGO
Operator State IL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 60612
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 STE
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 STE
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 6028
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --