Aircoupe A-2-DEX accident near Iola, Wisconsin, May 31, 1987
On May 31, 1987 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Aircoupe A-2-DEX, registered N6509Q, was destroyed in an accident near Iola, Wisconsin (Central County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was 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 October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 31, 1987 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Iola, Wisconsin · Central County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aircoupe A-2-DEX
- Registration
- N6509Q · no longer on the register · serial A-109
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. ON LANDING ROLL THE NOSE WHEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT STUCK IN THE GROUND, FLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT OVER ONTO ITS BACK. ACCORDING TO A PASSENGER ON AN EARLIER FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE FAILURE ON THE EARLIER FLIGHT, BUT LANDED SAFELY ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE FOUND OR PROVIDED BY THE PILOT TO SHOW THAT ANY CORRECTIVE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED TO CORRECT OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS ENGINE FAILURE.
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: 553 hours in all; 30 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,030 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-90 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 68C at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 20,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:12 am from AUW
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.