# NTSB CHI85FA020: Piper PA-32-300, N2898D, Bruce, WI, October 20, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 19, 1984, 19:40 local (Oct 20, 1984, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Bruce, WI
- Coordinates: 45.450481, -91.270812 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4505&lon=-91.2708&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12804
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FA020
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12804/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FA020

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - normal
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - low ceiling (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - clouds (contributing factor)
  - vfr flight into imc - initiated, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (cause)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A HEAVILY WOODED AREA DURING A X-COUNTRY PERSONAL FLIGHT. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE ACFT CIRCLE THE LIGHTED FOOTBALL FIELD AT ATLANTA, WI, AT AN ALTITUDE LOW ENOUGH THAT THEY FEARED THE ACFT WOULD HIT TREES IN THE VICINITY. AT THIS TIME THE WX CONDITIONS AT ATLANTA WERE: LOW OVERCAST, RAINY, GUSTY WINDS. WITNESSES WATCHED THE ACFT DEPART THE AREA TOWARD HIGHER GROUND AND HEARD AN EXPLOSION. INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL PRE- IMPACT FAILURE OF THE ACFT AND AUTOPSY AND TOXICOLOGY TEST DID NOT REVEAL ANY MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OR EVIDENCE OF DRUGS OR ALCOHOL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2898D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32-7940-188
- Airframe hours: 1145
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Dianne Droessler
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 13, 1984, 155 hours before
- Departed: MKE, MILWAUKEE, WI
- Destination: SSQ, SHELL LAKE, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,600 total, 75 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 260° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Lowest ceiling: 600 ft overcast
- Temperature: -0 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: EAU, 40 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841019068939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841019068939A), Oct 19, 1984: Piper PA32300, Bruce, WI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. After circling lighted field at low altitude flew into rising terrain.

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.