- Date
- May 1, 1995, 12:14 local (17:14 UTC)
- Place
- Menomonee Falls, WI
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2026Sorrel SNS-4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950501014709A
- Case key
- 9881
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 clearance with transmission wires. A factor in the accident was the transmission wires.
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
During the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane struck transmission lines and then landed. While landing the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
Factual narrative
On May 1, 1995, at 1214 central daylight time, an experimental Sorrel, N2026, was substantially damaged when it collided with transmission lines after taking off from Aero Park Airport, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The local 14 CFR Part 91 pleasure flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions.
According to the pilot, he performed a normal preflight in preparation for the local pleasure flight. The pilot stated he then taxied to the end of runway 05 (1250' x 110') at Aero Park and began his takeoff roll. The pilot stated the ground roll was normal and the airplane lifted off mid-field. While climbing the airplane struck transmission lines which are located approximately a 1/4 mile from the end of the runway. The pilot made a forced landing. While landing the airplane nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position.
In a telephone interview with the pilot, he stated "everything seemed fine except for the [airplane's] climb rate." The pilot stated "...the engine instruments were in the green." He stated that he did have the flaps extended to their normal extension of 5-10 degrees on takeoff. The pilot stated he had full fuel aboard and a weight and balance calculation done prior to the flight indicated the weight to be 100 pounds under the airplane's gross weight.
A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical abnormalities.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2026
- Reported as
- Sorrel SNS-4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 202
- Airframe hours
- 49
- Engine
- Lycoming O-290G, 125 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Paul Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 76C
- Airport
- 76C · Aero Park, runway 5, 1,250 × 110 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
- 45
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,301 total · 49 in this make and model · 1,169 as pilot in command · 12 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 45 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.