Piper PA-28-180 accident near Ephriam, Wisconsin, February 25, 1985
On February 25, 1985 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N15652, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ephriam, Wisconsin (Ephriam-Fish Creek airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 1985
- Place
- Ephriam, Wisconsin · Ephriam-Fish Creek · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N15652 · registry record · serial 28-7305109
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT DURING THE LANDING FLARE. AS THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN THE RIGHT WHEEL ENTERED AN AREA OF SLUSH. THE AIRCRAFT THEN SLID OFF THE RUNWAY TO THE RIGHT INTO A SNOWBANK, DAMAGING THE LANDING GEAR AND LEFT WING TIP. THE PILOT STATED THAT FROM THE AIR THE SLUSHY AREA ON THE RUNWAY APPEARED TO BE A DRY DUSTING OF SNOW. A RIGHT STEADY CROSSWIND COMPONENT OF 15 KNOTS EXISTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 84 hours in all; 67 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 50 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,720 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTW Manitowoc WI at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 15 knots, gusting 5
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 36°F (2°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N15652 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,623 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,842 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A 50 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Ephraim/Gibraltar Airport · nearest airport
- Manitowoc County · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Wisconsin 1,622 since 1982 · 226 in the last ten years
- Wisconsin 6,162 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI85LA123.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.