Piper PA22-135 accident near Lyons, Wisconsin, August 2, 2002
On August 2, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Piper PA22-135, registered N3522A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lyons, Wisconsin (Wag-Aero airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the pilot to maintain a sufficient rate-of-climb and to obtain a safe altitude/clearance from the tree line at end of the runway. Contributing factors were the uphill runway gradient and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lyons, Wisconsin · Wag-Aero · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22-135 · all PA22-135s on the register
- Registration
- N3522A · no longer on the register · serial 22-1794
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane took off to the northeast and was performing normally, according to the pilot. The pilot remained in ground effect until reaching the top of the hill (at the northeast end of the runway), at which point the airplane failed to clear a tree line approximately 100 yards off the end of the runway. The airplane impacted the trees at an altitude of 15~20ft agl. The last 1,000ft of the runway slopes upward. The engine was test run under the supervision of the FAA, and it operated satisfactory.
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: 517 hours in all; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 448 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,627 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2002; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,950 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI91 Lyons WI at 7:00 pm
- Destination: C02 Lake Geneva WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 3,100 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from ENW, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.