Amateur-built DHC-6-200 accident near Baldwin, Wisconsin, June 29, 2008
On June 29, 2008 at about 5:50 pm local time, a amateur-built DHC-6-200, registered N203SF, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Baldwin, Wisconsin (Baldwin airport). It was a skydiving flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 15 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2008 · about 5:50 pm local time
- Place
- Baldwin, Wisconsin · Baldwin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 15 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built DHC-6-200
- Registration
- N203SF · no longer on the register · serial 151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Skydiving flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that there were no observed anomalies with the left wing prior to the flight. During the flight, which was conducted as a local parachute operation, the pilot performed a descending turn. The left wing's aileron bound when the pilot attempted to level the bank. The pilot declared an emergency. The pilot and a passenger were able to exert enough force to the control wheel to regain control of the airplane and land safely. An on-scene examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left wing flap and aileron consistent with an overload event; however, the investigation could not definitively pinpoint the cause of the damage.
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
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- 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: 4,187 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 4,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 31,714 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, October 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 11,579 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI14 Baldwin WI at 5:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 11 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from RHN, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 14 |
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.