Piper PA-28R-201 accident near Dodgeville, Wisconsin, August 13, 1988
On August 13, 1988 at about 4:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28R-201, registered N47804, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dodgeville, Wisconsin (Dodgeville airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 3 people were 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
- August 13, 1988 · about 4:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dodgeville, Wisconsin · Dodgeville · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28R-201 · all PA-28R-201s on the register
- Registration
- N47804 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7837005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN ATTEMPTED LANDING IN GUSTY WIND, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, GOT BLOWN OFF TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND EXPERIENCED A TAIL STRIKE. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB OUT OF GROUND EFFECT, AND MADE A LANDING ON THE GRASSY FIELD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BEEHIVE WITH THE RIGHT-WING DURING THE LANDING ROLL.
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
- Flight time: 855 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 760 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,155 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 27, 1988; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wisconsin Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: LNR Lone Rock WI at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 2,750 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from MSN, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.