Cessna 182J accident near Galesville, Wisconsin, May 31, 2002
On May 31, 2002 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Cessna 182J, registered N3027F, was substantially damaged in an accident near Galesville, Wisconsin (Carhart Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot failed to maintain clearance with the wires while on final approach. Factors associated with the accident were the low altitude, the downdraft, and the wires which the airplane contacted.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 2002 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Galesville, Wisconsin · Carhart Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 182J · all 182Js on the register
- Registration
- N3027F · registry record · serial 18257127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with static wires on final approach to land. The pilot reported that he added power then the airplane encountered a downdraft while on base leg to land. He reported that on final approach another downdraft was encountered and he applied full power, but the airplane struck power lines with the nose gear. According to the pilot, a wire broke and another wire caught the aircraft and pulled it down. The pilot reported that after touchdown the nose gear folded back and the propeller struck the ground. The wind was reported to be 330 degrees at 9 knots at La Crosse Municipal Airport, La Crosse, Wisconsin which is 22 miles southeast of Carhart Farms Airport.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 15,000 as pilot in command; 140 on instruments
- Last flight review: November 4, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,170 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4W18 Galesville WI at 9:15 pm
- Destination: 4WI8 Galesville WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.76 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KLSE, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.