# NTSB CHI85FEP04: PZL-Bielsko SZD-45A Ogar, N35AS, Ft. Atkinson, WI, August 31, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 31, 1985, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Ft. Atkinson, WI
- Coordinates: 42.920101, -88.840217 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9201&lon=-88.8402&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12888
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FEP04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12888/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FEP04

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - roll/run
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE ACFT SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF APRX 40 TO 50 FT AGL. AT THIS TIME, ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE ENG SLOWED DOWN, THE ACFT TURNED LEFT AND DOVE INTO THE TERRAIN. NO MECHANICAL FAILURE/MALFUNCTION WAS DISCOVERED DURING AN ENG EXAMINATION WHICH WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN ANY SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF PWR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N35AS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PZL-Bielsko SZD-45A OGAR (SZD-45A OG)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: B771
- Airframe hours: 191
- Engines: LIMBACH SL 1700 EC 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Far Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, August 16, 1985, 1 hours before
- Departed: 61C, FORT ATKINSON, WI
- Airport: 61C, Fort Atkinson Municipal, runway 21, 1,950 × 150 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,851 total, 63 in this make and model, 1,684 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: JVL, 23 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 19850831042259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850831042259A), Aug 31, 1985: Szd SZD45AOGAR, Fort Atkinson, WI, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on takeoff climb. Motorized glider stalled in gusts and dived into the ground. Power loss unknown

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.