Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Wisconsin Rapid, Wisconsin, September 20, 1986
On September 20, 1986 at about 1:15 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4909F, was destroyed in an accident near Wisconsin Rapid, Wisconsin (Alexander Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
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
- September 20, 1986 · about 1:15 am local time
- Place
- Wisconsin Rapid, Wisconsin · Alexander Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4909F · no longer on the register · serial 32R-76804
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ATC HAD CLEARED THE AIRCRAFT FOR AN APPROACH TO AN AIRPORT WITH SEVERAL NONPRECISION INSTRUMENT APPROACHES AND TO MAINTAIN AN ALTITUDE UNTIL ESTABLISHED ON A SEGMENT OF AN APPROACH TO THAT AIRPORT. SHORTLY AFTER THAT TIME WITNESSES LOCATED 4.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT, HEARD THE AIRCRAFT PASS CLOSE BY AND THE SOUNDS OF IMPACT FOLLOWED BY AN EXPLOSION AND FIREBALL. IMC PREVAILED THRUOUT THE GENERAL AREA AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 3, 1986
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 074 Sparta WI
- Destination: ISW Wisconsin Rapid WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 070° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 400 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.