Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reedsburg, Wisconsin 53959
Tuesady, June 25, 1985 20:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

NO KNOWN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PLT PREFLT THE ACFT OR TAKEOFF. HE DEPARTED IN THE EVENING WHILE THE ARPT WAS NOT ATTENDED. AT APRX 2012 CDT, HIS SON OBSERVED & RECOGNIZED THE ACFT. AT THAT TIME, THE SON WAS AT HIS OWN HOME ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE PLT'S HOME. THE SON SAW THE ACFT OVERFLY HIS FATHER'S HOME AT LOW ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE SAW THE ACFT GO OVER A TREE COVERED RIDGE BETWEEN THE PLT'S HOUSE & THE ACDNT SITE. THE SON STATED THAT THE ACFT STRUCK TREES ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE RIDGE & DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW. AFTER HITTING THE TREES, THE ACFT IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD & CAME TO REST ABOUT 185 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE TREES. EVENTUALLY, THE ACFT BEGAN BURNING. CLEANLY CUT TREE LIMBS (PROP CUTS) WERE FND WHERE THE ACFT STRUCK THE TREES. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.239%.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/25/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 2015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City REEDSBURG
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53959
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Witness
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
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) 1540
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 26 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2046
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 28915
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N32461
NTSB Number CHI85FA253
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-28-151
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-28-151
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7515161
Certified Max Gross Weight 2150
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 6 1984 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 90
Airframe Hours 1614
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name REEDSBURG FLYING CLUB, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 529 BABB AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City REEDSBURG
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53959
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 No
Departure Airport Code C35
Departure City REEDSBURG
Departure State WI
Departure Country
Departure Time 2000
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 Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --