# NTSB CEN26LA263: Piper PA24, N8606P, Baraboo, WI, July 16, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report - Date: July 16, 2026, 15:08 local (20:08 UTC) - Place: Baraboo, WI - Coordinates: 43.53317, -89.771015 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5332&lon=-89.7710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-circling (IFR): Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 203432 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA263 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203432/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA263 ## Preliminary report On July 16, 2026, about 1508 central daylight time, a Piper PA-24-260 airplane, N8606P, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Baraboo, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that for the cross-country flight, the airplane had about 6.5 hours of fuel onboard, and the planned flight only required about 2.5 hours of fuel. A preliminary review of ADS-B data showed the airplane depart, about 1232, from the Mitchell Municipal Airport (MHE), Mitchell, South Dakota. The airplane traveled to the east toward the destination airport, the Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells Regional Airport (DLL), Baraboo, Wisconsin. About 22 miles to the west of DLL, the pilot maneuvered the airplane to the south of DLL. About 17 miles to the south of DLL, the pilot maneuvered the airplane to the north toward DLL. According to air traffic control, the airplane was cleared for the RNAV (GPS) runway 1 instrument approach at DLL. As the airplane flew toward the approach end of runway 1, the airplane turned slightly to the west and then flew to the north over the various hangars, located to the west of runway 1. The airplane then maneuvered to the east, flying over runway 1. The pilot reported that the engine was not responding to his commands, but he did not hear any sputtering or popping noises. The airplane flew to the north of runway 1, the airplane turned to the west, and impacted trees. The pilot reported the airplane impacted trees because it could not produce climb power. The airplane came to rest upright on a flat grass field, on private property, located about 0.30 miles to the northwest of the approach end of runway 19. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. The airplane was recovered from the accident site, and it was transported to a secure location for future examination. A review of meteorological data from the closest weather reporting station, located at DLL, showed that the visibility at the time of the accident was about 1 3/4 miles, with moderate haze in the area, originating from large wildfires in Minnesota and Canada. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-circling (IFR): Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-24-260, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=7102406), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8606P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8606P), registered now, S/N 24-4061, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA24 (260) - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-260](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-260) (registry code 7102406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-4061 - Year built: 1964 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MHE, Mitchell, SD - Destination: DLL, Baraboo, WI - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DLL, Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells Rgnl, runway 01/19, 5,010 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 1.75 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.08 inHg - Observed at: KDLL, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KDLL 161955Z AUTO 06005KT 1 3/4SM HZ OVC025 30/21 A3008 RMK AO2 T02970208 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20260716012449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260716012449A), Jul 16, 2026: Piper PA-24-260, Baraboo, WI, Destroyed. 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… ## Other investigations on N8606P (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 MKC66F0359](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC66F0359), Nov 29, 1965: Piper PA-24 (N8606P), Estherville, IA, substantial damage 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. --- 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.