Piper PA-28-140 accident near Princeton, Wisconsin, September 8, 1994
On September 8, 1994 at about 10:00 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-140, registered N4188Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Princeton, Wisconsin (Bed-Ah-Wick airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's premature liftoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1994 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, Wisconsin · Bed-Ah-Wick · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N4188Q · no longer on the register · serial 28-7725236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED HE HAD TWO PASSENGERS ABOARD THE AIRPLANE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM A 2,500' SOFT TURF RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE APPROXIMATELY 800' FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY, BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLIMB MORE THAN 40' ABOVE THE GROUND. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO FLY OFF THE AIRPORT AT A VERY LOW ALTITUDE, STRUCK A TREE WITH THE LEFT WING AND CRASHED INTO A SWAMP. THE PILOT WROTE IN HIS REPORT TO THE NTSB THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY: 'MORE POWER-LESS WEIGHT.'
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: 320 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 290 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 9, 1993
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1WI3 at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.