Piper PA-25-235 accident near Suring, Wisconsin, May 22, 1989
On May 22, 1989 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N4395Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Suring, Wisconsin. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. FACTORS RELATED TO TH ACCIDENT WERE: THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 22, 1989 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Suring, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N4395Y · no longer on the register · serial 25-4907
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER COMPLETION OF AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PILOT MADE A CLIMBING TURN TO RETURN TO THE STAGING AREA. DURING THE CLIMB, THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND AN IMMEDIATE EMERGENCY LANDING WAS INITIATED. HOWEVER, DUE TO LOW ALTITUDE, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO GLIDE THE AIRCRAFT TO A SUITABLE LANDING SITE. THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH TREES AND THEN THE TERRAIN. A SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT ONLY UNUSABLE FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE AIRCRAFT.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 9,551 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 9,476 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,068 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 1989; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B-2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ag-Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Williams Farms WI at 11:40 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:47 pm from MNM, 28 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.