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).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1985 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ephriam, Wisconsin · Ephriam-Fish Creek · 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 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI85LA123.