Amateur-built Murphy Rebel accident near Stratford, Wisconsin, June 17, 2001
On June 17, 2001 at about 5:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Murphy Rebel, registered N622GL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stratford, Wisconsin. 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 pilot's failure to abort the takeoff from the farm field. Factors were the tall grass, the rising terrain, the fence, and the inadequate planning/decision by the pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 2001 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Stratford, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Murphy Rebel
- Registration
- N622GL · no longer on the register · serial 622R3
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with an electric fence following a takeoff from a farm field. The field used for takeoff had tall grass and rising terrain in the direction of the takeoff. According to the pilot, "after liftoff the aircraft contacted a wire fence which slowed the aircraft down. The aircraft contacted the soft ground and flipped over into its back." In a written report, the pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions of the aircraft.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 670 hours in all; 76 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 670 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 3, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 2000; 150 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-8 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Stratford WI
- Destination: 5N2 Prentice WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observation at 5:59 pm from STE, 33 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.