Piper PA24-260 accident near Middleton, Wisconsin, April 15, 1983
On April 15, 1983 at about 4:58 am local time, a Piper PA24-260, registered N9215P, was destroyed in an accident near Middleton, Wisconsin (Morey airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- April 15, 1983 · about 4:58 am local time
- Place
- Middleton, Wisconsin · Morey · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA24-260 · all PA24-260s on the register
- Registration
- N9215P · no longer on the register · serial 24-4711
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING ARRIVAL AT NIGHT, THE PLT WAS CLEARED FOR A VOR-B APCH TO THE MOREY ARPT, AN UNCONTROLLED FACILITY AT AN ELEVATION OF 928 FT MSL. RWY 13/31 AT THE ARPT HAD LOW INTENSITY RWY LIGHTS WHICH COULD BE ACTIVATED BY KEYING THE RADIO ON 123.5 MHZ. THE CIRCLING MINIMUMS FOR THE APCH WERE 700 FT CEILING & 1 MI VISIBILITY. DURING THE APCH WITH THE RADIO ON 124.0 MHZ, THE PLT WAS ADVISED THAT THE WX WAS 900 FT OVERCAST, VISIBILITY 7 MI WITH LIGHT DRIZZLE. WHEN THE ACFT WAS ON FINAL APCH, THE CONTROLLER HEARD 3 CLICKS (ON 124.0 MHZ) & ADVISED THE PLT HE HAD LOST RADAR CONTACT. THE PLT RESPONDED BY SAYING THAT HE HAD GROUND COMTACT & WAS CANCELLING HIS IFR CLEARANCE, BUT THAT HE COULD NOT SEE THE RWYLIGHTS. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AT AN ELEVATION OF APRX 1000 FT MSL, THEN CRASHED & BURNED. THE MDA FOR THE APCH WAS 1600 FT MSL.
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: 1,227 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 1,127 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 22, 1982; 49 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DIG Dwighty IL at 3:30 am
- Destination: C29 Middleton WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 13, 2,975 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded at 900 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:48 am from MSN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.