Piper PA-28-140 accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin, July 12, 1990
On July 12, 1990 at about 8:40 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N5330F, was substantially damaged in an accident near New Richmond, Wisconsin (New Richmond airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION, WHICH RESULTED IN THE GASCOLATOR DRAIN BEING LEFT OPEN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 1990 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- New Richmond, Wisconsin · New Richmond · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N5330F · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725042
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE LOST POWER JUST AFTER LIFT-OFF, RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING. THE AIRPLANE RAN OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY AND IMPACTED A LARGE ROUND BALE OF HAY. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING WHEN THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. THE ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY DURING A POST-ACCIDENT ENGINE RUN. THE FAA INSPECTOR STATED HIS INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE GASCOLATOR DRAIN VALVE WAS STUCK OPEN SLIGHTLY 'ALLOWING THE FUEL PUMP TO SUCK AIR ALONG WITH GAS.'
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: 100 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 100 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,208 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 11, 1990; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E30 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Executive Air, INC.
The flight
- Destination: GRB Green Bay WI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 31, 3,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.