Piper PA-28-180 accident near Crandon, Wisconsin, May 28, 1989
On May 28, 1989 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4734L, was substantially damaged in an accident near Crandon, Wisconsin (Crandon Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL & SUBSEQUENT WINGTIP COLLISION WITH THE GROUND DURING THE LANDING. THE CROSSWIND AND TURBULENCE WERE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1989 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Crandon, Wisconsin · Crandon Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4734L · registry record · serial 28-4060
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT RPRTD THAT AS HE WAS LANDING, THE ACFT ENCOUNTERED WIND THAT WAS SWIRLING BELOW TREETOP LEVEL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT STRUCK THE GROUND WITH THE LEFT WING TIP & DEPARTED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. APRX 23 MI NORTHWEST AT RHINELANDER, WI, THE 1450 CDT WIND WAS FROM 230 DEG AT 10 KTS. THE PLT ESTIMATED THE WIND AT CRANDON WAS FROM THE SOUTH AT 20 GUSTING 25 KTS.
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: 80 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 35 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,960 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1989; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: UES Waukesha WI at 5:36 pm
- Destination: YSS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,100 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 20 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from RHI, 23 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.