Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wisconsin Rapid, Wisconsin 54495
Saturday, August 28, 2004 9:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained substantial damage when it hit a wire over a river and subsequently impacted the water. The private pilot reported that he had given three people free rides prior to the accident flight. He reported that the passenger on the accident flight had requested an aerobatic flight. Both were wearing parachutes. He departed the airport to the west, climbed to 3,000 feet above ground level (agl), and flew aerobatic maneuvers. He reported that he flew to the south, and then he proceeded to fly north over the river back to the airport. He reported that he was flying approximately 40-50 feet above the river when the airplane struck the power lines just as he was about to initiate a climb. The main landing gear struck the power lines and the airplane landed inverted in the river in about 3-4 feet of water. The pilot reported that he had flown over the river going south from the airport "many times." He reported that he was not where he thought he was when the accident occurred. He reported that he thought he was 4 miles south of his location. He reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper in-flight decision when he decided to fly at a low altitude over the river and failed to maintain clearance from the power lines. A factor was the wires.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/28/2004
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 945
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Wisconsin Rapid
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54495
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 443949N
Event Location Longitude 0895028W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID ISW
Elevation of weather observation facility 1021
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KISW 281354Z AUTO 07008KT 10SM CLR 16/11 A30
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17900
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 7 2005 10:33AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Milwaukee WI, FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N86600
NTSB Number CHI04LA243
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 Boeing
Aircraft Model A75
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 75-899
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
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 May 8 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 40
Airframe Hours 6692
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Mark A. Strub
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7052 Hetze Rd.
Aircraft Owner City Wisconsin Rapids
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54495
Operator is an individual? No
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 ISW
Departure City Wisconsin Rapid
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 930
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 Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 10 2005 10:02AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --