Three Lakes Municipal Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Three Lakes, Wisconsin 54562
Monday, September 1, 2008 16:26 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane impacted trees after takeoff. The pilot reported that upon takeoff the airplane's door opened. He reported that he opened the window and attempted to close the door. He stated that he became distracted trying to close the door and the left wing of the airplane clipped trees. He stated that there were no mechanical difficulties with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to attain sufficient altitude to avoid the trees during initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's failure to ensure the security of the entrance door before takeoff and the unintentional opening of the door.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/1/2008
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1626
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Three Lakes
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54562
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 454725N
Event Location Longitude 0890715W
Event Location Airport Three Lakes Municipal Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 40D
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 --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
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 --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24509
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2008 5:27PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N12809
NTSB Number CHI08CA287
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 CESSNA
Aircraft Model 172M
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17262279
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name HASELHORST JOSEPH A
Aircraft Owner Street Address 507 S MAIN ST
Aircraft Owner City NAPERVILLE
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 60540-6510
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name HASELHORST JOSEPH A
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 507 S MAIN ST
Operator City NAPERVILLE
Operator State IL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 60540-6510
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 40D
Departure City Three Lakes
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1626
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 15C
Destination City Bolingbrook
Destination State IL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2008 3:31PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 21
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 120
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --