Piper PA-32R-300 accident near Antigo, Wisconsin, December 10, 1993
On December 10, 1993 at about 1:56 am local time, a Piper PA-32R-300, registered N550BC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Antigo, Wisconsin (Langlade County airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot in command to maintain proper altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 1993 · about 1:56 am local time
- Place
- Antigo, Wisconsin · Langlade County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N550BC · registry record · serial 32R7780161
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft crashed during the second circling NDB approach at night about one-eigth mile south of runway 34. The first approach terminated in a missed approach. The business flight had been conducted on an IFR flight plan in IMC conditions. The pilot had received a weather brief and was advised of the possibility of low ceilings and fog. He received a PIREP from a pilot who had just landed at his destination before he attempted the first approach. The left wing of the airplane dragged the ground, and the airplane crashed while on the base-to-final turn.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 602 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,950 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 24, 1993; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1G5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3BB Troy MI at 11:10 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 34, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 500 ft; scat at 200 ft
- Temperature: 37°F (3°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:50 am from AUW, 25 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.
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.