Piper PA-24-250 accident near Waunakee, Wisconsin, May 14, 1989
On May 14, 1989 at about 2:13 pm local time, a Piper PA-24-250, registered N7465P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waunakee, Wisconsin. 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
SLIPPAGE OF A BEARING, WHICH RESULTED IN BLOCKAGE OF THE LUBRICATION SYSTEM, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF A CONNECTING ROD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1989 · about 2:13 pm local time
- Place
- Waunakee, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-24-250 · all PA-24-250s on the register
- Registration
- N7465P · no longer on the register · serial 24-2655
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AS THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLIMBING FROM TAKEOFF, THE PILOT NOTICED AN UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE & OIL PRESSURE FLUCTUATIONS. WHEN HE REALIZED THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT REACH THE AIRPORT, HE SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE & MADE A WHEELS UP LANDING IN A NEWLY PLANTED CORN FIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED EVIDENCE OF OIL STARVATION OF THE #4 ROD BEARING, THE #5 ROD BEARING & THE MAIN BEARING, THEN SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE #5 ROD. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE OCCURRENCE WAS INITIATED BY SLIPPAGE OF A BEARING.
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: 3,300 hours in all; 2,600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,725 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 1988; 375 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-A1B5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WI06 Waunakee IL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: C09 Morris IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 11,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:50 pm from MSN, 6 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.