# NTSB CHI94LA317: Piper PA-28-140, N4188Q, Princeton, WI, September 8, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 8, 1994, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Princeton, WI
- Coordinates: 43.849952, -89.120269 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8500&lon=-89.1203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 24, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 9671
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94LA317
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9671/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA317

## Probable cause

the pilot's premature liftoff.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD THE AIRPLANE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A 2,500' SOFT TURF RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 800' FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB MORE THAN 40' ABOVE THE GROUND.  THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO FLY OFF THE AIRPORT AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE, STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING AND CRASHED INTO A SWAMP. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY: 'MORE POWER-LESS WEIGHT.'

## Factual narrative

On September 8, 1994, about 1700 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28-140 airplane, N4188Q, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff from the Bed-Ah-Wick Airport, Princeton, Wisconsin.  The private pilot and one passenger received minor injury, the remaining passenger reported no injury.  The local pleasure flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.

The pilot wrote in his report to the NTSB that he lifted off about 800' feet from the end of runway 36 (2,500', turf, soft), but was unable to climb higher than 40' above the ground before the stall warning came on.  He said that he was unable to maintain altitude, and descended over a brushy swamp where the airplane's left wing struck a small tree and subsequently crashed.  In the Recommendation section of the NTSB report (How could this accident have been prevented), the pilot wrote: "More power-less weight."

No preimpact mechanical anomaly with the airplane was discovered during a postaccident inspection, and none was claimed by the pilot.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4188Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4188Q-2012-11-20), registration cancelled 2012-11-20, S/N 28-7725236 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-7725236
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ken A. Fritz
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, September 9, 1993
- Departed: 1WI3
- Airport: 1WI3, Bed-Ah-Wick, runway 36, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 320 total, 300 in this make and model, 290 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F

## 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 19940908026029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940908026029A), Sep 8, 1994: Piper PA28140, Princeton, WI, Substantial damage. Overloaded attempt depart soft turf runway. Lifted but unable climb. Wing hit tree off end. Crashed into swamp.

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.

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