- Date
- June 9, 1995, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC)
- Place
- Viroqua, WI
- Injuries
- 2 serious
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5762WPiper PA-28-160
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950609019879A
- Case key
- 9907
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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
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 he taxied the airplane to the end of the runway and performed an engine runup. The pilot stated all indications were normal. The airplane took off and started to climb. The pilot stated that at approximately 300 feet above the ground the engine began to miss and vibrate. He immediately switched the selected fuel tank, but the engine continued to lose power. The pilot turned the airplane 180 degrees in an attempt to return to the airport. While turning the airplane contacted transmission wires and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination revealed no mechanical abnormalities.
Factual narrative
On June 9, 1995, at 1520 central daylight time, a Piper PA-28- 160, N5762W, registered to B&G Electric Construction Company of Viola, Wisconsin, sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing shortly after taking off from Viroqua Municipal Airport, Viroqua, Wisconsin. The airplane collided with transmission wires as the pilot was turning to try and avoid landing in a residential area. The private pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was en route to Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he taxied the airplane to runway 11 at Viroqua Municipal Airport and performed an engine runup. According to the pilot, all indications were normal. The airplane then took off and started to climb. At approximately 300 feet above the ground, the pilot reported the engine began to miss and vibrate. He immediately switched fuel tanks, but the engine continued to lose power. The pilot made a 180 degree turn in an effort to try and return to the airport. While turning the airplane collided with power lines and impacted the ground.
Review of engine logbooks disclosed the last annual inspection was performed on November 13, 1994. The airplane has logged 82.2 total hours since this last inspection. The entry prior to this entry was dated February 14, 1990. Between the dates of November 13, 1994 and February 14, 1990 the airplane logged 7.3 total hours.
A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical abnormalities.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5762W
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-160
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-1544
- Airframe hours
- 3,198
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- B&G Electric Construction Co.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 13, 1994 · 82 hours before
- Departed
- Y51
- Destination
- C35 · Reedsburg, WI
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
- 72
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 100 in this make and model · 50 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- 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.
Other investigations on N5762W · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.