Grumman G-44 accident near Delevan, Wisconsin, October 1, 1987
On October 1, 1987 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Grumman G-44, registered N1173V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delevan, Wisconsin (Lake Lawn airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person 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
- October 1, 1987 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Delevan, Wisconsin · Lake Lawn · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Grumman G-44 · all G-44s on the register
- Registration
- N1173V · no longer on the register · serial 1383
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ON INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF CONTROL IN A STRONG CROSSWIND, DEPARTED THE RUNWAY TO THE LEFT, STRUCK A TREE LINE AND OVER TURNED.
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: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,962 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,580 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,400 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming GO-480-BID (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C59 Delevan WI at 3:30 pm
- Destination: MKE Milwaukee WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 4,400 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 25 knots, gusting 32
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MKE, 40 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.