Beech H35 accident near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, September 16, 1982
On September 16, 1982 at about 8:44 pm local time, a Beech H35, registered N4676D, was destroyed in an accident near Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. It was a personal 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 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
- September 16, 1982 · about 8:44 pm local time
- Place
- Beaver Dam, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech H35 · all H35s on the register
- Registration
- N4676D · no longer on the register · serial D4872
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT ABOUT 1530 CDT, THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED MADISON, WI ON A FLIGHT TO THE DODGE COUNTY AIRPORT AT JUNEAU, WI. ACCORDING TO A FIXED BASE OPERATOR AT JUNEAU, THE PILOT HAD MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO FLY THE AIRCRAFT THERE ON THAT DATE FOR AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. AT 1544, THE PLANE CRASHED ON DOWNSLOPING TERRAIN IN AN UNPLANTED CORN FIELD AND WAS DESTROYED. NUMEROUS WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE PLANE, BUT DID NOT HEAR THE ENGINE RUNNING. ONE WITNESS SAW THE AIRCRAFT CIRCLE FROM A NORTHERLY HEADING AND TURN TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST BEFORE IT CRASHED. ACCORDING TO A SHERIFF'S REPORT, THE WIND WAS FROM THE SOUTHWEST. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES WERE FOUND. THE CRASH SITE WAS LOCATE ABOUT 6 MI FROM THE DESTINATION AIRPORT.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,775 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,242 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 15 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental O-470-0 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSN Madison WI at 3:30 pm
- Destination: UNU Juneau WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 127°F (53°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:00 pm from MSM, 40 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.