Amateur-built 1A accident near Stoughton, Wisconsin, June 17, 1991
On June 17, 1991, a amateur-built 1A, registered N8084D, was destroyed in an accident near Stoughton, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE INADEQUATE DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO PROVIDE FOR ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM MOISTURE ACCUMULATION IN THE FORM OF DRAIN HOLES. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE THE DETERIORATION (WOOD ROT) OF THE WING SPAR ATTACH AND THE LACK OF INSPECTION ACCESS.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 17, 1991
- Place
- Stoughton, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built 1A
- Registration
- N8084D · no longer on the register · serial 70-30
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE PERFORMING AN AEROBATIC MANEUVER THE RIGHT WING FAILED AND DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCENDED INTO THE TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION REVEALED WOOD ROT AT THE FUSELAGE CARRY THRU SPAR ATTACHMENT WHERE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. EXAMINATION REVEALED SIMILAR ROT ON THE LEFT SIDE. THERE WERE NO DRAIN HOLES IN THE AREA OF THE SPAR ATTCHMENT WHERE MOISTURE COULD ACCUMULATE. IT WAS FURTHER DETERMINED THAT THE AREA WHERE THE DETERIORATION OCCURRED WAS NOT VISIBLE DURING NORMAL INSPECTION.
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: 642 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 250 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 1991; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 740 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-85-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2W16 Stoughton WI
- Destination: WI06 Waunakee WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 11:50 pm from MSN, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N8084D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.