North American T28D-FENNEC accident near Madison, Wisconsin, August 1, 1986
On August 1, 1986 at about 11:08 pm local time, a North American T28D-FENNEC, registered N128RM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 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
- August 1, 1986 · about 11:08 pm local time
- Place
- Madison, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- North American T28D-FENNEC T28D-FENNE · all T28D-FENNECs on the register
- Registration
- N128RM · no longer on the register · serial 51-3528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER THE AIRCRAFT WAS INITALLY TAXIED FOR TAKEOFF, THE PILOT RETURNED TO THE RAMP AND STATED THAT HE WAS EXPERIENCING ENGINE PROBLEMS. HE INQUIRED AT AN FBO ABOUT CHARTERING AN AIRCRAFT TO TAKE HIMSELF AND HIS SON TO AN EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT ASSOCIATION CONVENTION AT OSHKOSH, WI. MECHANICS LOOKED AT THE AIRCRAFT, BUT NO SPECIFIC PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED. THE AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED AND SMOKE WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE AIRCRAFT AS IT LOST POWER. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN THE AIRPORT, HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN SHORT OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER IN A MARSH AREA.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,477 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 10, 1986; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R1820-56 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MSN Madison WI at 11:06 pm
- Destination: OSH Oshkosh WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:08 pm from MSN, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N128RM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.