Private Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Prescott, Wisconsin 54021
Thursday, May 15, 2003 11:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted terrain after the pilot lost control during an attempted go-around. The pilot reported the airplane floated in ground effect so he decided to go-around. The pilot stated the airplane was unable to clear a line of trees off the south end of the runway. The pilot indicated he banked the airplane to the left, "but still felt [he] could not clear the north-south tree line to the east." The pilot reported he increased his rate of turn, and the airplane subsequently lost altitude and impacted terrain.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot delaying the go-around and the maneuver to avoid the treeline. Factors to the accident were the treeline and the airplane's low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1100
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Prescott
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54021
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 444717N
Event Location Longitude 0924038W
Event Location Airport Private
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PVT
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 900
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1054 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 285
Weather Observation Facility ID SGS
Elevation of weather observation facility 895
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1200
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.43
Density Altitude (feet) 1068
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14822
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date May 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1336
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 8:07AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2581A
NTSB Number CHI03LA127
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18-135
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-2157
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
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 Nov 2 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 2490
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name David William Sattler
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1900 Kimberly Road
Aircraft Owner City Mosinee
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54455
Operator is an individual? Yes
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 PVT
Departure City Prescott
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PVT
Destination City Prescott
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Dec 16 2003 2:37PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 1300
Runway Width 45
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --