Piper PA-28-180 accident near Eagle River, Wisconsin, July 18, 2023
On July 18, 2023 at about 8:05 pm local time, a 1964 Piper PA-28-180, registered N7921W, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Eagle River, Wisconsin (Eagle River Union airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed on approach, which resulted in an extended touchdown, loss of control, and runway excursion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 18, 2023 · about 8:05 pm local time
- Place
- Eagle River, Wisconsin · Eagle River Union · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180, built 1964 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N7921W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing at the destination airport, the airplane floated down the runway, landed long, and did not slow as expected. He continued to apply the brakes as the airplane neared the end of the runway, then felt a gust of wind from the left. The pilot was unable to maintain control and the airplane veered off the right side of the runway. The airplane nosed over in the grass and came to rest inverted which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that to prevent the accident he could have landed closer to the threshold of the runway. The responding FAA inspector examined the airplane and found that the throttle was not all the way to idle.
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 control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 526 hours in all; 301 in this make and model; 4.8 in the last 90 days; 4.8 in the last 30 days; 526 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 30, 2021
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,046.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4AL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KHYR Hayward WI at 7:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4, 5,000 ft by 76 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,400 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from KLNL, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KLNL 182015Z AUTO 34008KT 10SM SCT044 SCT065 21/09 A3001 RMK AO2 T02130093
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on September 28, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Video File - Accident Sequence | video | 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.