Glasair GS-2 accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin, July 27, 2005
On July 27, 2005 at about 2:40 pm local time, a Glasair GS-2, registered N105TW, was destroyed in an accident near Wautoma, Wisconsin (Wautoma Municipal Airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the abrupt maneuver that was performed while failing to maintain airpeed, resulting in a stall, and uncontrolled impact with the ground without sufficient altitude to recover.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2005 · about 2:40 pm local time
- Place
- Wautoma, Wisconsin · Wautoma Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasair GS-2
- Registration
- N105TW · no longer on the register · serial 7026
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying a local demonstration flight in the airport pattern to be filmed by a camera crew. The aircraft conducted a steep climbout after takeoff from runway 26, turned downwind, and reduced power at a downwind altitude of about 300-500 feet above ground level. The aircraft then made a number of yaws, then entered a steep left turn, an increase in power was heard, and then the aircraft impacted the terrain in about an 80 degree left bank. A post impact fire occurred. Inspection of the airframe, engine, propeller, and flight controls disclosed no evidence of any peimpact failure or malfunction.
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 instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,300 hours in all; 40 in this make and model
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 170 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2005; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-X184 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Wautoma WI
- Destination: Wautoma WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 08, 2,280 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 2:59 pm from WPCZ, 25 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.