- Date
- August 28, 2004, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
- Place
- Wisconsin Rapid, WI
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N86600Boeing A75
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 7, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20040828028069A
- Case key
- 60035
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper in-flight decision when he decided to fly at a low altitude over the river and failed to maintain clearance from the power lines. A factor was the wires.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it hit a wire over a river and subsequently impacted the water. The private pilot reported that he had given three people free rides prior to the accident flight. He reported that the passenger on the accident flight had requested an aerobatic flight. Both were wearing parachutes. He departed the airport to the west, climbed to 3,000 feet above ground level (agl), and flew aerobatic maneuvers. He reported that he flew to the south, and then he proceeded to fly north over the river back to the airport. He reported that he was flying approximately 40-50 feet above the river when the airplane struck the power lines just as he was about to initiate a climb. The main landing gear struck the power lines and the airplane landed inverted in the river in about 3-4 feet of water. The pilot reported that he had flown over the river going south from the airport "many times." He reported that he was not where he thought he was when the accident occurred. He reported that he thought he was 4 miles south of his location. He reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction.
Factual narrative
On August 28, 2004, approximately 0945 central daylight time, a Boeing A75, N86600, sustained substantial damage when it hit a wire over the Wisconsin River near Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, and subsequently impacted the water. The private pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed from the Alexander Field South Wood County Airport (ISW), Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, about 0930 and was giving rides to people who were at the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he had given three people free rides prior to the accident flight. He reported that the passenger on the accident flight had requested an aerobatic flight. He reported that they both were wearing parachutes so he departed ISW to the west. He climbed to 3,000 feet above ground level (agl), and flew aerobatic maneuvers, which included 1 Cuban eight, 1 loop, and 2 hammerhead stalls. He reported that he proceeded to the south, and then he proceeded to fly north over the Wisconsin River back to ISW. He reported that he was flying approximately 40-50 feet above the river. He reported, "Just as I was to initiate a climb I struck power lines crossing the river. I noticed the power lines not more that 1/2 second before impact." The main landing gear struck the power lines and the airplane landed inverted in the river in about 3-4 feet of water.
The pilot reported that he had flown the river going south from ISW "many times." He reported that he was not where he thought he was when the accident occurred. He reported that he thought he was 4 miles south of his location.
He reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N86600
- Reported as
- Boeing A75
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 75-899
- Airframe hours
- 6,692
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark A. Strub
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 8, 2004 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- ISW · Wisconsin Rapid, WI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Last flight review
- September 30, 2002
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 330 total · 140 in this make and model · 300 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.09 inHg
- Observed at
- ISW, 1 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.