North American T-28C accident near Manitowoc, Wisconsin, June 4, 2004
On June 4, 2004 at about 11:20 pm local time, a North American T-28C, registered N404DK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Manitowoc, Wisconsin (Manitowoc County airport). It was an air show or air race 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
Failure of the number 4 piston articulating rod resulting in a complete loss of engine power during initial climb. The ditch was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2004 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Manitowoc, Wisconsin · Manitowoc County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T-28C · all T-28Cs on the register
- Registration
- N404DK · registry record · serial 140461
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that as he was reducing to climb power after takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level, when he felt a severe vibration and heard several "bangs." He reported that the engine "wound down". He made a slight left turn toward an open field adjacent to a barn to set up for a gear-up forced landing. He noted that the touchdown was smooth and the aircraft slid for approximately 335 feet. The aircraft yawed as it slid and came to a stop when the tail struck a ditch adjacent to a roadway. A post-accident examination determined that the #4 articulating rod had failed resulting in the engine failure.
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, flight engineer, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 324 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 29,000 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 29, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,646 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 22, 2003; 4.5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright 1820-86B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTW Manitowoc WI at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from MTW, 1 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.