Amateur-built ROBERTSON B1-RD accident near Menasha, Wisconsin, September 7, 1991
On September 7, 1991 at about 9:34 pm local time, a amateur-built ROBERTSON B1-RD, registered UNREG, was destroyed in an accident near Menasha, 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
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOK OUT WHIH RESULTED IN A WIRE STRIKE AND UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 7, 1991 · about 9:34 pm local time
- Place
- Menasha, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ROBERTSON B1-RD ROBERTSON
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A NON-CERTIFIED PILOT IN A NON-CERTIFIED AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH WIRES DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB PHASE OF FLIGHT. THE OWNER OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT, STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT STALLED. WHEN THE MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED WIRES, THE WING FABRIC CAUGHT FIRE. THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TO THE GROUND AND CONTINUED TO BURN. THE PILOT ESCAPED WITH MINOR INJURIES, HOWEVER A PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 07 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded at 8,000 ft; not recorded at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:45 pm from ATW, 8 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 UNREG 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.