Piper PA-28-180 accident near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, July 17, 1989
On July 17, 1989 at about 5:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8005W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LAND IN CROSSWIND CONDITIONS. DURING THE ENSUING ABORTED LANDING, THE PILOT FAILED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE OBSTACLE CLEARANCE AND THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK THE WIND SOCK POLE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 1989 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin · Chippewa Falls · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8005W · registry record · serial 28-2066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING AN ATTEMPT TO LAND WITH A 15-20 KNOT RIGHT CROSSWIND, THE PILOT 'PUSHED LEFT RUDDER JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN' BUT STATED THAT HE MUST HAVE PUSHED TOO HARD, BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN 'AT A SLIGHT ANGLE TO THE LEFT.' THE PILOT ABORTED THE LANDING WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO ANGLE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. SHORTLY AFTER THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE, AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROXIMATELY 4 FEET AGL, THE LEFT WING STRUCK A WIND SOCK POLE AND SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF 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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 150 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 21, 1988; 57 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AHH Amery WI at 4:40 pm
- Destination: 3WI9 Chippewa Falls WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 pm from EAU, 9 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.