# Accident 19960811022169A: Amtr TBIRD, Fond Du Lac, WI, August 11, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 11, 1996, 19:02 local time
- Place: Fond Du Lac, WI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7699° N, 88.4397° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7699&lon=-88.4397&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31774, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31774-2013-07-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schuler K E / Schuler K F T BIRD 11 (registry code 05676SX, https://openairdocs.org/model/schuler-k-e-schuler-k-f-t-bird-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR TBIRD
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA286) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960811022169A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19) ON AUGUST 11, 1996, AT 1922 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A SCHULER T BIRD II, N31774, OPERATED BY A STUDENT PILOT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN FOLLOWING A REPORTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF.  THE TAKEOFF WAS BEING CONDUCTED FROM A FARM FIELD IN FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE STUDENT PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED.  THE ACCIDENT SITE AND WRECKAGE WERE INSPECTED BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION PRINCIPAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR (PMI) FROM THE MILWAUKEE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE.  THE PMI REPORTED THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM HE SAW WITH THE ENGINE WAS A SOLDERED IGNITION WIRE WHICH WAS NOT PROPERLY INSULATED. THE PMI STATED THAT THERE WERE TREES WHICH WERE APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET TALL LOCATED AT THE END OF THE GRASS STRIP WHICH WAS USED FOR TAKEOFF.  HE STATED THE AIRPLANE CLEARED THE TREES AND IMPACTED THE TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET AWAY FROM THE TREELINE.                                                                                                      (-23) ON AUGUST 11, 1996, AT 1902 CDT A T BIRD II, N31774 COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING TAKE OFF ON A PRIVATE GRASS STRIP. THE STUDENT PILOT AND HIS PASSENGER RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED IN ST. CLOUD, WI, AT 1902 CDT FROM THE PRIVATE STRIP. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA286](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA286), Aug 12, 1996: Schuler T Bird II (N31774), Fond Du Lac, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of engine power because of improperly insulated ignition wiring. Factors relating to the accident were improper maintenance; and high obstructions in the emergency landing area, which the pilot…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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