Republic RC-3 accident near Baraboo, Wisconsin, October 12, 2000
On October 12, 2000 at about 1:00 pm local time, a Republic RC-3, registered N6175K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Baraboo, Wisconsin (Baraboo Wisconsin Dells airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the number five intake valve spring during initial climbout and that there was no suitable terrain during the forced landing. A factor was the corn crop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2000 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Baraboo, Wisconsin · Baraboo Wisconsin Dells · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Republic RC-3 · all RC-3s on the register
- Registration
- N6175K · registry record · serial 363
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane encountered an in-flight loss of engine power during initial climbout and sustained substantial damage on impact with vegetation and terrain during a forced landing in a field. The pilot and pilot rated passenger were uninjured. The pilot stated, "Between 250' and 400' AGL airspeed began to decay and climb rate decreased quickly. ... Aircraft pitch attitude was continually being reduced to maintain flying speed. Control became difficult (control feel 'mushy') and return to runway seemed impossible. Altitude was decreasing quickly. At this point I estimate height AGL at less than 200'. Aircraft was turned into wind, towards best field. Avoided obstacles and landed in corn field." The pilot listed the mechanical malfunction as, "Intake valve spring failed on #5 cylinder. When spring failed, allowed intake valve to remain open. Failure disrupted entire engine function."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,300 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,150 as pilot in command; 700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 471 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,059 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Franklin 6A8/215/B8F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLL WI at 1:00 pm
- Destination: GVQ Batavia NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 126°F (52°C), dew point 97°F (36°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:10 pm from DLL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.