Piper PA-28-140E accident near Glidden, Wisconsin, August 18, 1988
On August 18, 1988 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140E, registered N4476T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Glidden, Wisconsin (Glidden Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people 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
- August 18, 1988 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Glidden, Wisconsin · Glidden Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140E · all PA-28-140Es on the register
- Registration
- N4476T · no longer on the register · serial 28-7225151
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A 2,175' GRASS STRIP, WITH THE AIRCRAFT LOADED NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT, THE PILOT APPROACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY WITHOUT HAVING ATTAINED LIFTOFF AIRSPEED. THE PILOT LIFTED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE GROUND PREMATURELY AND WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER AIRSPEED, CLIMB RATE, OR ALTITUDE NECESSARY TO CLEAR THE TREES LOCATED AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES, AND FELL TO THE GROUND, LANDING IN A NEARLY LEVEL ATTITUDE.
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: 163 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 126 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 687 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 16, 1987; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Northern Flying Club, INC.
The flight
- Destination: RHI Rhinelander WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,175 ft by 175 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from IWD, 31 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.