Waukesha County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Waukesha, Wisconsin 53188
Sunday, July 13, 2014 13:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On July 13, 2014, about 1300 central daylight time, a Piper PA 28-181 airplane, N9681K, impacted trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while on approach to land at the Waukesha County Airport, Waukesha, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Wisconsin Fox River Flyers, Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Watertown Municipal Airport, Watertown, Wisconsin, about 1220. The pilot reported that he had entered the airport traffic pattern for landing. When the airplane was abeam the approach end of the runway, he reduced power, applied carburetor heat, and confirmed that the auxiliary fuel pump was on. When the airplane was on the base leg of the traffic pattern, the pilot attempted to increase engine power but the engine did not respond. He stated that even full throttle did not result in an increase in power. He attempted moving the engine and carburetor heat controls to no avail. While attempting the remedial actions he had turned toward the runway and declared an emergency. The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the runway resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed that fuel was present. The engine was rotated and compression was verified on all cylinders. The magnetos showed spark that was confirmed at all of the spark plug leads. No mechanical reason for the loss of engine power was found. At the time of the accident the temperature and dew point were 24 degrees C and 17 degrees C respectively. According to a carburetor icing probability chart, the temperature and dew point were in a range of susceptibility for moderate icing at cruise power settings and serious icing at descent power settings.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/13/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Waukesha
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53188
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430228N
Event Location Longitude 0881413W
Event Location Airport WAUKESHA COUNTY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID UES
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 44
Airport Elevation 912
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1245 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID UES
Elevation of weather observation facility 912
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3400
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KUES 131745Z 25009KT 10SM BKN034 24/17 A2992
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
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 Dec 4 2014 3:38PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9681K
NTSB Number CEN14LA443
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier 181
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7690274
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 2
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 Apr 4 2014 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 7291
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name WISCONSIN FOX RIVER FLYERS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7333 S 36TH ST
Aircraft Owner City FRANKLIN
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 531329466
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WISCONSIN FOX RIVER FLYERS INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 7333 S 36TH ST
Operator City FRANKLIN
Operator State WI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 531329466
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 RYV
Departure City Watertown
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1220
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code UES
Destination City Waukesha
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 21 2014 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record brajo
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 5849
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --