Piper PA-28-151 accident near Reedsburg, Wisconsin, June 26, 1985
On June 26, 1985 at about 1:15 am local time, a Piper PA-28-151, registered N32461, was destroyed in an accident near Reedsburg, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were 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
- June 26, 1985 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Reedsburg, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N32461 · registry record · serial 28-7515161
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
NO KNOWN WITNESSES OBSERVED THE PLT PREFLT THE ACFT OR TAKEOFF. HE DEPARTED IN THE EVENING WHILE THE ARPT WAS NOT ATTENDED. AT APRX 2012 CDT, HIS SON OBSERVED & RECOGNIZED THE ACFT. AT THAT TIME, THE SON WAS AT HIS OWN HOME ABOUT 1/2 MI FROM THE PLT'S HOME. THE SON SAW THE ACFT OVERFLY HIS FATHER'S HOME AT LOW ALT. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE SAW THE ACFT GO OVER A TREE COVERED RIDGE BETWEEN THE PLT'S HOUSE & THE ACDNT SITE. THE SON STATED THAT THE ACFT STRUCK TREES ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE RIDGE & DISAPPEARED FROM HIS VIEW. AFTER HITTING THE TREES, THE ACFT IMPACTED IN AN OPEN FIELD & CAME TO REST ABOUT 185 FT FROM THE INITIAL IMPACT WITH THE TREES. EVENTUALLY, THE ACFT BEGAN BURNING. CLEANLY CUT TREE LIMBS (PROP CUTS) WERE FND WHERE THE ACFT STRUCK THE TREES. NO PREIMPACT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FND. A CHECK OF THE PLT'S BLOOD SHOWED AN ALCOHOL LEVEL OF 0.239%.
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: 460 hours in all; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,614 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 6, 1984; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: C35 Reedsburg WI at 1:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.