Piper PA-25-235 accident near Neenah, Wisconsin, May 27, 1991
On May 27, 1991 at about 11:15 am local time, a Piper PA-25-235, registered N855SD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Neenah, Wisconsin (Brennand airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED TO ACHIEVE FLIGHT, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1991 · about 11:15 am local time
- Place
- Neenah, Wisconsin · Brennand · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-25-235 · all PA-25-235s on the register
- Registration
- N855SD · no longer on the register · serial 25-4543
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH A LIQUID PESTICIDE IN PREPARATION FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. ON TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO CLEAR A DIRT EMBANKMENT 200' BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE 2,090' RUNWAY. THE LOAD WAS LOST WHEN IT LEAKED OUT OF THE HOPPER AFTER IMPACT. EXACT LOADING WEIGHT AND BALANCE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS WERE FOUND DURING POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRCRAFT AND ENGINE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,850 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-B2C5 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ag-Air INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,090 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from ATW, 5 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.