Amateur-built CHALLENGER II accident near Redgranite, Wisconsin, June 4, 1987
On June 4, 1987 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II, registered N56DZ, was destroyed in an accident near Redgranite, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. 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
- June 4, 1987 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Redgranite, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CHALLENGER
- Registration
- N56DZ · registry record · serial CH20485BO147
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT HAD PURCHASED THIS AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT EARLIER IN THE DAY AND HAD MADE ONE SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT AND WAS ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE SECOND FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT AN ESTIMATED ALTITUDE OF 150' TO 200' AGL, WHEN WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN APPROXIMATELY 40 DEGREES, WITH POWER REMAINING CONSTANT AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT HAS A MAXIMUM PILOT SEAT WEIGHT RESTRICTION OF 250 POUNDS. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL CERTIFICATE INDICATED HIS WEIGHT AT 275 POUNDS. WITNESSES INDICATED WEIGHT TO BE AT LEAST 300 POUNDS.
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: student
- Flight time: 60 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 40 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 790 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 447 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DKB De Kalb IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 am from OSH, 22 miles away
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.