# NTSB CHI98LA083: Nerstrom-Tailwind W-8, N12038, Lodi, WI, January 20, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 20, 1998, 11:07 local (17:07 UTC) - Place: Lodi, WI - Coordinates: 43.309082, -89.5298 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3091&lon=-89.5298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10821 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10821/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA083 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain a proper altitude due to the whiteout conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the low pass performed by the pilot and the visual illusion created by the whiteout conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - low pass - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - whiteout (cause) - proper altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual illusion, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said he was observing the airplane's shadow as he made a low pass over a snow covered frozen lake at 50 feet. He said he went under a cloud, lost his shadow, and encountered whiteout conditions. The pilot said he could not tell where the lake's surface was because he could no longer see his shadow. He pulled up to gain altitude, but the main landing gear contacted the ice, shearing them off. The wing struts overloaded and broke off on the subsequent bounce. Several publications on winter flying describe whiteout conditions. One book describes the pilots encounter as 'overcast whiteout.' ## Factual narrative On January 20, 1998, at 1107 central standard time (cst), a Nerstrom Tailwind W-8, N12038, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the frozen, snow covered surface of Lake Wisconsin during a low pass. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed Baraboo, Wisconsin, at 1030 cst. The pilot stated in his written statement that he left Baraboo, Wisconsin, for a short local flight. He said that after 30 minutes of flying he descended over Lake Wisconsin, near Lodi, Wisconsin, to check and see "...if anyone had been using the lake at [the] restaurant area..." for landing. He said that he "dropped down to abut 50 feet over the lake [while] looking out the left door window..." at his shadow. When the airplane went under a cloud, the pilot said he realized he could no longer see his shadow. The pilot said he contacted the ice "... the instant [he] could no longer see [his] shadows." During a telephone conversation, the pilot said he lost visual reference when the airplane's shadow disappeared. The pilot said that he could not tell where the lake surface was due to the whiteout conditions he encountered. He stated he pulled up to gain altitude, but the main landing gear contacted the ice, shearing it off. He said on the subsequent bounce, the wing struts were overloaded and the wings broke off. In the book Flight Training Manual by Transport Canada, overcast whiteout is described as "...a uniform layer of cloud over a snow-covered surface." The sunlight is "...scattered and diffused..." in between the overcast clouds and snow surface in all directions. This results in "...the space between the ground and cloud appear[ing] to be filled with a diffused light with a uniform white glow. Depth perception is completely lacking as the sky blends imperceptibly with the ground at the horizon line, causing disorientation." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N12038](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N12038-1998-03-31), registration cancelled 1998-03-31, S/N 184 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NERSTROM-TAILWIND W-8 - Registry model: [Nerstrom Tailwind W-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/nerstrom-tailwind-w-8) (registry code 97902E4) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 184 - Airframe hours: 920 - Engines: CONTINENTAL C-90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Russell P. Hasenbalg - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 13, 1997, 51 hours before - Departed: DLL, BARABOO, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 11,931 total, 1,193 in this make and model, 1,162 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19980120003849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980120003849A), Jan 20, 1998: Amtr TAILWINDW8, Lodi, WI, Destroyed. Low over Lake to look for landing on ice. Hit rough ice. Sheared wings and landing gear. (.4)the pilot said he was observing the airplane's shadow as he made a… 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.