Piper PA-30 accident near Appleton, Wisconsin, February 27, 2001
On February 27, 2001 at about 11:01 pm local time, a Piper PA-30, registered N8196Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Appleton, Wisconsin (Outagamie County airport). It was a personal 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 misjudged glidepath and the intentional engine shutdown by the pilot. Factors were the false indication of the landing gear down light and the approach light.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2001 · about 11:01 pm local time
- Place
- Appleton, Wisconsin · Outagamie County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N8196Y · no longer on the register · serial 30-1314
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft undershot the runway during a precautionary landing, struck a runway approach light and came to rest about 10 feet from the end of the runway. The flight was being conducted to practice instrument approaches. During an approach, the landing gear down indicator light did not illuminate on gear extension. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the problem and ultimately decided to land the aircraft. The pilot decided to shut down the engines on final approach in an attempt to minimize engine and propeller damage in the event of a landing gear collapse. The pilot said, "I cut the power too soon."
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,030 hours in all; 310 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 830 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 4, 1999
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,490 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 19, 2000; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320-B1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ATW Appleton WI at 10:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 6,501 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 1°F (-17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.35 inHg
- Observation at 11:10 pm from ATW
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.