Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Watertown, Wisconsin, August 19, 1990
On August 19, 1990 at about 3:00 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N4070Q, was destroyed in an accident near Watertown, Wisconsin (Watertown Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 7 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INITIATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGIAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN CURRENCY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 1990 · about 3:00 am local time
- Place
- Watertown, Wisconsin · Watertown Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 7 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N4070Q · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7780325
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN APPROX 1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AFTER A NIGHT TAKEOFF. A POLICE OFFICER OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAXI TO THE RUNWAY; HE DID NOT SEE THE AIRPLANE TAKE OFF. HE DESCRIBED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME AS HEAVY RAIN WITH LIGHTNING AND THUNDER, AND HIGH WINDS. A PASSENGER IN AN AUTOMOBILE ON A HIGHWAY 1500 FT WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED WHAT SHE THOUGHT TO BE A 'SHOOTING STAR'. SHE STATED THEY WERE DRIVING SLOWER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAIN. THE PILOT STATED TO FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HE HAD TO FLY AND DO THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS BEFORE MIDNIGHT OR HE WOULD LOSE HIS LICENSE. HIS LAST FLIGHT WAS 92 DAYS (EXACTLY 3 CALENDAR MONTHS) BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.
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: 212 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 123 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wisconsin Aviation INC
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,965 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 6 |
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.