Piper PA-28RT-201 accident near Ojibwa, Wisconsin, May 14, 1989
On May 14, 1989 at about 10:10 pm local time, a Piper PA-28RT-201, registered N82702, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ojibwa, Wisconsin (Rainbow 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE: THE WET/UPWARD SLOPING CONDITION OF THE AIRSTRIP, UNFAVORABLE WIND, HIGH OBSTRUCTIONS (TALL TREES/OBSTACLES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY), AND HIGH VEGETATION (BRUSH & SMALL TREES).
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 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Ojibwa, Wisconsin · Rainbow
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28RT-201 PA-28RT-20 · all PA-28RT-201s on the register
- Registration
- N82702 · no longer on the register · serial 28R-8118003
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,520 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 248 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,452 as pilot in command; 945 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,502 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1989; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,750 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 10:10 pm
- Destination: ANE Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25, 3,300 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.