Piper PA-28-180 accident near West Bend, Wisconsin, December 21, 1992
On December 21, 1992 at about 10:18 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N8806J, was substantially damaged in an accident near West Bend, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO SELECT THE FUEL TANK WITH THE MOST FUEL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 21, 1992 · about 10:18 pm local time
- Place
- West Bend, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N8806J · registry record · serial 28-2756
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT AND EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF TO RETURN TO HIS HOME BASE. THE PILOT MADE AN OFF-AIRPORT FORCED LANDING AND STRUCK TREES DURING THE LANDING ROLLOUT. THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE LEFT FUEL TANK OR THE LINE FROM THE TANK TO THE CARBURETOR. THERE WAS FUEL IN THE RIGHT TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS POSITIONED ON THE LEFT TANK.
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: 151 hours in all; 5 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,326 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1992; 81 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Sylvania Aero Enterprises
The flight
- Destination: C89 Sturtevant WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from MWC, 19 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.