Piper PA-32RT-300T accident near Chambers Island, Wisconsin, November 22, 1984
On November 22, 1984 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-32RT-300T, registered N21596, was destroyed in an accident near Chambers Island, Wisconsin (Chambers Island airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- November 22, 1984 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chambers Island, Wisconsin · Chambers Island
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32RT-300T PA-32RT-30 · all PA-32RT-300Ts on the register
- Registration
- N21596 · no longer on the register · serial 32R7887223
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT REPORTED THAT DURING TAKEOFF UPON REACHING AN ALT OF 8-10 FT AGL A DOWN DRAFT WAS ENCOUNTERED AND THE ACFT CONTACTED THE RWY ON THE RT LANDING GEAR WHICH WAS IN THE TRANSIENT POSITION. HE REPORTED HE WAS ABLE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE BUT THE RATE OF CLIMB WAS SLOW. HE DETERMINED THAT THE TREES SOUTH OF THE APRT COULD NOT BE CLEARED SO HE SLOWED THE ACFT AND LANDED IN THE TREE TOPS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT ACTIVATED THE GEAR OVERRIDE SYSTEM PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. USING SHORT FIELD PROCEDURES THE GEAR RETRACTION PROCESS BEGAN UPON ROTATION RESULTING IN PROPELLER CONTACT WITH THE GROUND.
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: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,760 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 4,550 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,095 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 6, 1984; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TSIO-540-S1AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Destination: GRB Green Bay WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 18 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from GRB, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 | 2 |
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.