Piper PA-32-301 accident near Crivitz, Wisconsin, September 2, 2004
On September 2, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-32-301, registered N8173J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crivitz, Wisconsin. It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The proper touchdown point not attained by the pilot during landing. The road and tailwind were contributing factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 2, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Crivitz, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32-301 · all PA-32-301s on the register
- Registration
- N8173J · no longer on the register · serial 32-8006017
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A rental airplane received substantial damage on impact with a road during an aborted landing on runway 36 (2,155 feet by 70 feet, dry asphalt). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident with southerly winds. The pilot stated that he touched down, "dumped" the flaps, and made a decision that he needed to go-around. He applied full power and tried to clear the black top road at the end of the runway. He stated that the road was higher than the runway and had a 2-3 foot "build up" over the road bed. The main landing gear hit the lip on the black top. The left main landing gear separated from the airplane, and the right main landing gear was bent. He then departed and landed at an alternate airport. The Airport Facility Directory lists runway 36 as having a displaced threshold of 518 feet. A "road" is also listed under runway 36.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,129 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GRR Grand Rapids MI
- Destination: 3D1 Crivitz WI
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.