Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER accident near Brodhead, Wisconsin, July 27, 1991
On July 27, 1991 at about 8:39 pm local time, a amateur-built PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, registered N14961, was substantially damaged in an accident near Brodhead, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
EROSION OF AN EXHAUST VALVE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 1991 · about 8:39 pm local time
- Place
- Brodhead, Wisconsin
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER PIETENPOL
- Registration
- N14961 · registry record · serial P101SE
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE WAS POWERED BY A CONVERTED AUTOMOBILE ENGINE. DURING A CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ENGINE SUSTAINED A PARTIAL POWER LOSS & THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE AIRPORT & THE AIRPLANE WAS DAMAGED DURING A FORCED LANDING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN EXHAUST VALVE WAS ERODED & LEAKING.
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; 30 in this make and model
- 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: 900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Corvair GO-140 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C37 Brodhead WI at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 79C Necedah WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 5,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 8:49 pm from JVL, 15 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N14961 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI91DEP11.