Piper PA25 accident near Tomah, Wisconsin, May 17, 1983
On May 17, 1983 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA25, registered N4521Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tomah, Wisconsin (Boyers airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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
- May 17, 1983 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tomah, Wisconsin · Boyers
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA25 · all PA25s on the register
- Registration
- N4521Y · registry record · serial 25-472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKEOFF ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION MISSION. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED DURING THE LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON THE 5TH FLT OF THE DAY AFTER TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 27 AND WHEN CLIMBING TO 125 FT AGL THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT REDUCED POWER AND LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD 50 YDS OFF THE END OF TH TAKEOFF RUNWAY. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE LOWER PLUGS CONTAINED A DARK GREY DEPOSIT THAT BRIDGED THE ELECTRODES. THIS DEPOSIT WEAKENED THE SPARK PRODUCED BY THE PLUGS. WHEN CLEARED THEY PRODUCED A STRONGER SPARK.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,302 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 1,230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,201 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 4, 1982; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE WI
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 3,600 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.