- Date
- May 29, 1994, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lodi, WI
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 3 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N55835Piper PA-28-140
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940529012859A
- Case key
- 9548
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 failure to maintain direction control which resulted from a inadequate compensation for the crosswind conditions. Factors related to the accident were the pilot's diverted attention, the crosswind, the trees which were contacted.
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 pilot reported paying attention to the airspeed indicator during the initial takeoff climb and failed to notice the airplane drifted to the right. The right wing contacted trees and the airplane settled into a wooded area. The takeoff was being made on runway 27. A weather reporting facility, 14 NM southeast, reported winds from 190 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 20.
Factual narrative
On May 29, 1994, at 1330 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 140, N55835, operated by Dean W. Boyd collided with trees during takeoff from the Lodi Lakeland Airstrip, a private field, in Lodi, Wisconsin, while on a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot and two passengers received minor injuries, a third passenger was seriously injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that during the takeoff climb, he was paying attention to the airspeed indicator and failed to notice that the airplane had drifted to the right. The right wing contacted trees at an altitude of 40 to 50 feet above ground level and the airplane settled into a wooded area. The pilot reported the airplane lifted off approximately 3/4 the way down the runway. The takeoff was being made on runway 27 (1,900' x 75') and reported winds at Madison, Wisconsin, 14 miles southeast, were from 190 degrees at 14 knots gusting to 20 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N55835
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-140
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-7325499
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Dean W. Boyd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 3, 1993
- Airport
- C76 · Lodi Lakeland, runway 27, 1,900 × 75 ft, grass/turf
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 335 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MSN, 14 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.