# NTSB CHI85LA298: Piper PA-28-140, N38174, Pepin, WI, July 19, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1985, 19:05 local (Jul 19, 1985, 00:05 UTC)
- Place: Pepin, WI
- Coordinates: 44.440055, -92.139999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4401&lon=-92.1400&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA298
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13150/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA298

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency
  - object - tree(s) (contributing factor)
  - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - initiated, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED THREE QUARTERS DOWN A 2300 FOOT SOD RUNWAY AND THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH 55 KIAS. THE AIRCRAFT MUSHED INTO TREES OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHEN THE PILOT COULDN'T OBTAIN FLYING SPEED. THE PILOT REPORTED FULL ENGINE RPM WAS AVAILABLE, TEMP 81 DEGREES F.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38174](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38174-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 28-7725267, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-140
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 287725267
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William J. Dondlinger
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: RLA, Pepin Airways, runway 27, 2,300 ×  ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 96 total, 23 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 16 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: RST, 30 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 19850718035019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850718035019A), Jul 18, 1985: Piper PA28140, Pepin, WI, Destroyed. Used soft instead of short field takeoff from grass runway. Unable to climb over trees at runway end.

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.