Piper PA22/20 accident near Stevens Point, Wisconsin, July 13, 1991
On July 13, 1991 at about 7:40 pm local time, a Piper PA22/20, registered N5968D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Stevens Point, Wisconsin (Stevens Point airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM RUDDER CONTROL ROD (RUDDER CABLE BELLCRANK TORQUE TUBE) BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. A FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE INOPERATIVE TAILWHEEL STEERING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 1991 · about 7:40 pm local time
- Place
- Stevens Point, Wisconsin · Stevens Point · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA22/20 · all PA22/20s on the register
- Registration
- N5968D · registry record · serial 22-4633
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TRICYCLE LANDING GEAR AIRPLANE WAS CONVERTED TO A CONVENTIONAL GEAR CONFIGURATION USING A SUPPLEMENTAL TYPE CERTIFICATE (STC). DURING A LANDING ROLLOUT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO TURN TO THE LEFT. ATTEMPTS BY THE PILOT AND INSTRUCTOR TO STOP THE TURN WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY AND GROUNDLOOPED. AND INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT RUDDER CABLE BELLCRANK TORQUE TUBE HAD FAILED. THE RUDDER PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND BROKEN PART DID NOT CONFORM TO THE STC DESIGN.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,360 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 21, 1991; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-A2B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 6,028 ft by 120 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 9,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 6:55 pm from CWA, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.