Piper PA24 accident near Beechwood, Wisconsin, January 18, 2019
On January 18, 2019 at about 9:30 pm local time, a 1959 Piper PA24, registered N6497P, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Beechwood, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 18, 2019 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Beechwood, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24 250, built 1959 · all PA24s on the register
- Registration
- N6497P · no longer on the register · serial 24-1617
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
About 25 minutes into the cross-country flight, the pilot experienced a loss of engine power. After attempting different carburetor heat settings, switching fuel tanks, and adjusting the mixture settings, the engine continued to run, but was not producing enough power to maintain altitude. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field with the landing gear retracted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Whether the atmospheric conditions were conducive to the development of carburetor ice could not be determined, as the dew point depression was not within the chart’s matrix. Examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies, but impact damage precluded thorough examination of the carburetor control rigging. Based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 198 hours in all; 18 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 109 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 11, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,772 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 SERIES (piston); 6,772 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCQ Oconto WI at 5:30 pm
- Destination: BUU Burlington WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 030° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 19°F (-7°C), dew point 7°F (-14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from SBM, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 9, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NTSB Form 6120 Pilot Operator Report CEN19LA071 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Carburetor Icing Probability Carburetor Icing Probability and Carburetor Airbox Evaluation CEN19LA071 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Sherrif Report CEN19LA071 | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array CEN19LA071 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.