# Accident 20260716012449A: Piper PA-24-260, Baraboo, WI, July 16, 2026 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 16, 2026, 15:05 local time - Place: Baraboo, WI - Damage: Destroyed - Phase of flight: Landing: Approach - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 43.5332° N, 89.7710° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5332&lon=-89.7710&mi=10 - Aircraft: N8606P, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8606P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Piper PA-24-260 (registry code 7102406, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming TI0-540 series (registry code 41533, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-24-260 - Reported engine: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 1 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 2,233 total, 1,950 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA263) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260716012449A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ARRIVED ON SCENE AT APPROXIMATELY 1700 JUST N-W A 1/4 TO 1/2 MILE OF THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 19 ACROSS THE ROAD FROM THE HO CHUNK CASINO. AIRCRAFT N8606P MMS PA-24-260 HAD COME TO REST IN THE GRASS AFTER PASSING THROUGH A ROW OF TREES TO THE NORTH 100 YARDS FROM THE CRASH SITE. PILOT WAS REMOVE FROM THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO MY ARRIVAL AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH SEVER FACIAL INJURIES. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT CONSISTED OF BOTH WING TIPS WERE SHEERED OFF GOING THROUGH THE TREES. LANDING GEAR WAS EXTENDED PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT NOSE GEAR HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR HAD COLLAPSED. FUSELAGE AT THE REAR OF THE CABIN ON RIGHT SIDE HAD SPLIT OPEN, RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE DAMAGE. PROP AND ENGINE MOTOR MOUNT ALSO DAMAGED ALONG WITH PART OF THE ENGINE COWL TORN AWAY. WINDSHIELD WAS MISSING DUE TO THE EXTRACTION OF THE PILOT BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CHECK OF THE ENGINE OIL SHOWED 3 QUARTS ON BOARD WITH THE ENGINE COMING TO REST AT ABOUT A 30 DEGREE ANGLE TO THE RIGHT. FUEL ON BOARD SHOWED MINIMAL FUEL ON BOARD BUT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE WINGS. CARGO ON BOARD WAS UNLOADED AND WEIGHT. AIRCRAFT HAD ABOUT 180LBS OF CARGO ON BOARD. ELT WAS DEACTIVATED BY THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. PILOTS IPAD AND SIMM CARDS FROM INSTRUMENTS WERE CONFISCATED AT THE NTSBS REQUEST. AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO THE SAUK COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT IMPOUND YARD. PIC WAS OPERATING N8606P ON 7/16/2026 IN IMC CONDITIONS. PIC WAS CLEARED FOR RNAV RWY 1 STRAIGHT IN APPROACH, AIRCRAFT WAS UNSTABILIZED DURING FINAL APPROACH SEGMENT, WHEN PILOT IDENTIFIED RUNWAY WAS IN SIGHT, PILOT PERFORM AN UNAUTHORIZED CIRCLING MANEUVER TO RUNWAY 19. LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT DURING CIRCLE MANEUVER, AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH A TREE RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO PILOT AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. ## 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 CEN26LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA263), Jul 16, 2026: Piper PA24 (N8606P), Baraboo, WI, substantial damage, investigation ongoing ## Other reports on N8606P (3) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Incident 20030616020209I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030616020209I), Jun 16, 2003: Piper PA24260 (N8606P), Mitchell, SD, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot carey buhler landed at mhe airport in N8606P, pa 24-260, aircraft. The aircraft touched down and rolled approximately 400 feet, then the gear… - [Incident 19910730042579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19910730042579I), Jul 30, 1991: Piper PA24260 (N8606P), Jamestown, ND, Minor damage. Pilot failed to ensure landing gear was down. Landed gear up. - [Incident 19860412020599I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860412020599I), Apr 12, 1986: Piper PA24260 (N8606P), Spearfish, SD, Minor damage. Encountered gusty crosswind while taxiing and aircraft veered off side of the runway. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.