Piper PA-28-161 accident near Marshfield, Wisconsin, February 25, 1993
On February 25, 1993 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-161, registered N3044N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marshfield, Wisconsin (Marshfield). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE STUDENT PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRCRAFT DIRECTIONAL CONTROL DURING THE TAKEOFF GROUND RUN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 1993 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marshfield, Wisconsin · Marshfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N3044N · no longer on the register · serial 28-7916270
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE STUDENT PILOT STATED HE WAS PLANNING TO PRACTICE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN DURING HIS SECOND SOLO FLIGHT. HE REPORTED THE TAKEOFF '...WAS PROCEEDING STRAIGHT DOWN RUNWAY...AIRSPEED...WAS APPROXIMATELY 60 KNOTS WHEN AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY VEERED LEFT.' THE STUDENT PILOT APPLIED RIGHT RUDDER AND THE AIRPLANE '...STRAIGHTENED SLIGHTLY...' BUT THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SNOWBANK AND CAME TO REST 20 TO 30 FEET FROM THE RUNWAY. THE STUDENT PILOT HAD 18.8 HOURS TOTAL FLIGHT TIME, INCLUDING .6 HOURS AS PIC. THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS THE STUDENT'S FIRST FLIGHT WITHOUT HIS INSTRUCTOR'S DIRECT SUPERVISION. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF (OR CLAIM OF) MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION.
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: student
- Flight time: 19 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,592 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 3, 1992; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D3G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aviation Services, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from MFI, 1 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.