Beech A23A accident near Grantsburg, Wisconsin, July 31, 1982
On July 31, 1982 at about 9:45 pm local time, a Beech A23A, registered N3683Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grantsburg, Wisconsin (Grantsburg Municipal 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 31, 1982 · about 9:45 pm local time
- Place
- Grantsburg, Wisconsin · Grantsburg Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech A23A · all A23As on the register
- Registration
- N3683Q · no longer on the register · serial M1055
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT COULD NOT START THE AIRCRAFT WITH THE MIXTURE IN THE NORMAL (RICH) POSITION. THE MIXTURE WAS SET TO LEAN AND THE ENGINE STARTED. DURING TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE PILOT LANDED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THIS WAS THE FIRST FLIGHT SINCE AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. DURING A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION, THE FUEL PUMP ADJUSTMENT SCREW HAD TO BEADJUSTED BY 3 TURNS TO GET THE FUEL PRESSURE DOWN TO NORMAL. ALSO THERE WAS A 100 RPM RISE WHEN THE MIXTURE WAS LEANED AT 1000 RPM SETTING. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOUND TO BE FOULED WITH CARBON.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 2,610 hours in all; 2,610 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,932 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 1,932 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GTG Grantsburg WI
- Destination: GTG Grantsburg WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 3,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 185°F (85°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.