# NTSB CHI94LA237: Piper PA-18-135, N9843Q, Butte Des Mort, WI, July 20, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 1994, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Butte Des Mort, WI - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9601 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9601/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA237 ## Probable cause A DELAYED REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE INSTRUCTOR. A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT WAS A PROPER AIRSPEED NOT BEING ATTAINED BY THE DUAL STUDENT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command(cfi) - airspeed - not obtained, dual student (contributing factor) - remedial action - delayed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - touchdown - uncontrolled, pilot in command(cfi) - terrain condition - water ## Analysis THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE WAS HAVING THE STUDENT PRACTICE POWER OFF APPROACHES WHEN HE SIMULATED AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE STUDENT DID NOT PITCH THE AIRPLANE'S NOSE DOWN TO ATTAIN THE PROPER GLIDE SPEED ACCORDING TO THE INSTRUCTOR. THE INSTRUCTOR TOLD THE STUDENT TO PITCH THE NOSE DOWN TWICE BEFORE TAKING CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. AS HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE, THE INSTRUCTOR SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S LEFT WING COLLIDED WITH THE WATER AS THE POWER WAS BEING APPLIED. THE AIRCRAFT TURNED ABOUT 180 DEGREES BUT REMAINED UPRIGHT ON THE FLOATS WITH DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 1994, at 1635 central daylight time (cdt), a Piper PA-18-135, N9843Q, registered to Victor Ahlquist of Appleton, Wisconsin, was substantially damaged during a simulated emergency landing on Lake Butte des Mort, Butte des Mort, Wisconsin. The instructional flight had a seaplane flight instructor and student on board. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The instructor pilot and student reported no injuries. The flight departed Butte des Mort, Wisconsin, at 1550 cdt. According to the instructor's written statement, he simulated a loss of power during a gliding approach to landing. He said the simulation began at 250 feet above the water. The student did not, according to the instructor, obtain a safe gliding speed after the loss of power simulation. The instructor said he told the student to lower the airplane's pitch attitude twice before he took control of the airplane. He stated the airplane was low and slow when he took control. The instructor said he applied full power after taking control. The airplane's left wing collided with the water shortly after the instructor took control. He said the airplane turned about 180 degrees after the wing struck the water. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9843Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9843Q), registered now, S/N 18-3524, built 1954 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18-135 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-3524 - Airframe hours: 2599 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Pro-Aire Training - Registered owner: Victor Ahlquist - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 1994, 83 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 2,905 total, 60 in this make and model, 2,770 as pilot in command, 110 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OSH, 20 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 19940720018949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940720018949A), Jul 20, 1994: Piper PA18135, Butte Des Mort, WI, Substantial damage. Simulated engine out. Student failed lower nose maintain speed. CFI acted too late. Wing hit water. Cartwheeled. ## Other investigations on N9843Q (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI78DEP38](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI78DEP38), Jun 15, 1978: Piper PA-18 (N9843Q), Lake Winnebego, WI, substantial damage 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.