Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A accident near Racine, Wisconsin, July 29, 1994
On July 29, 1994 at about 3:23 am local time, a Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A, registered N79752, was destroyed in an accident near Racine, Wisconsin (John H. Batten Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
LOSS OF POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASON(S). THE DARK NIGHT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 29, 1994 · about 3:23 am local time
- Place
- Racine, Wisconsin · John H. Batten Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A
- Registration
- N79752 · no longer on the register · serial 7128
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITNESSES HEARD THE VINTAGE WWII TRAINER TAKING OFF AT NIGHT. THEY REPORTED THAT DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB, THE ENGINE SOUND VARIED FROM HIGH TO LOW RPM 4 TIMES, THEN THEY HEARD THE AIRPLANE COLLIDE WITH THE TWO-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING. A PILOT APPROACHING TO LAND AT THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT REPORTED SEEING THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE AT LOW ALTITUDE AND '...NOT CLIMBING OR CLIMBING AT A VERY SHALLOW ANGLE.' OTHER WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE ENGINE AS 'SPUTTERING' AND 'BACKFIRING.' AN ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE ENGINE'S 10:1 COLLECTOR INTERMEDIATE GEAR HAD TWO TEETH MISSING. METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE FRACTURES BY THE SAFETY BOARD REVEALED FEATURES CONSISTENT WITH OVERSTRESS SEPARATION.
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: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,680 hours in all; 104 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,230 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 25, 1994; 113 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-985-AN1-14B (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: RAC WI at 3:20 am
- Destination: UGN Waukegan IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,823 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 am from MKE, 12 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.