Piper PA-20 accident near Wausau, Wisconsin, September 8, 2003
On September 8, 2003 at about 3:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-20, registered N5595H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wausau, Wisconsin (Wausau Muni airport). It was an instructional 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 excessive free play resulting in a loose tail wheel assembly and a failure of the flight crew to maintain directional control during the landing rollout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 2003 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Wausau, Wisconsin · Wausau Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-20 · all PA-20s on the register
- Registration
- N5595H · registry record · serial 20-659
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged when the aircraft ground looped during the landing roll. The flight instructor stated that an "uneventful 3-point landing was performed." He reported that during the rollout the aircraft began to drift toward the left. The dual student reportedly applied right rudder and the aircraft responded. However, the aircraft continued to track to the right, and despite full left rudder being applied, the aircraft did not "straighten out." When the aircraft reached the edge of the runway it "immediately ground looped to the right." The left wing tip and left horizontal stabilizer contacted the ground and were damaged. A post accident investigation revealed the tail wheel free play was approximately 3-1/2 inches. Tail wheel control continuity was verified. No other anomalies were noted.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,462 hours in all; 31 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 2,336 as pilot in command; 1,362 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 41 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,110 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2003; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUW Wausau WI at 2:00 pm
- Destination: AUW Wausau WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12R, 2,950 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from AUW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.