Piper PA-32R-300 accident near North Freedom, Wisconsin, October 31, 1984
On October 31, 1984 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N30TR, was destroyed in an accident near North Freedom, Wisconsin (Unknown airport). It was a business 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
- October 31, 1984 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- North Freedom, Wisconsin · Unknown
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N30TR · registry record · serial 32R-768188
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AT AN EARLY MORNING PREDEPARTURE WX BRIEFING THE PILOT WAS ADVISED OF DETERIORATING AFTERNOON WX PILOT FLEW CROSS COUNTRY CONDUCTED BUSINESS AND DEPARTED LATE AFTERNOON WITH NO WX BRIEF NO FLT PLAN DEPARTURE AREA AND DESTINATION BOTH REPORTING IMC WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMAIN VFR UNDER A RAGGED 600 FT CEILING PILOT ENTERED CLOUDS AND STRUCK TREES ON A RIDGE
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 799 hours in all; 26 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,384 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1984; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0.540.KIG5D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C35 Reedsburg WI at 7:15 pm
- Destination: C29 Madison WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 pm from MSN, 29 miles away
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.