Piper PA-28 accident near Madison, Wisconsin, September 18, 1994
On September 18, 1994, a Piper PA-28, registered N2283Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Madison, Wisconsin (Dane CO. Regional Airport). It was a personal 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 PILOT-IN-COMMAND NOT MAINTAINING A PROPER GLIDEPATH DURING HIS FINAL APPROACH TO LANDING. A FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCIDENT WAS THE LACK OF RECENT EXPERIENCE IN THE TYPE OPERATION PERFORMED BY THE PILOT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 18, 1994
- Place
- Madison, Wisconsin · Dane CO. Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28 · all PA-28s on the register
- Registration
- N2283Q · registry record · serial 28.7790391
- 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 FINAL APPROACH TO LAND ON A RUNWAY SERVED BY VASI, REIL, AND HIGH INTENSITY RUNWAY EDGE LIGHTING. HE SAID HE LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD BECAUSE HIS '... LANDING APPROACH [WAS] TOO LOW... .' THE RUNWAY LIGHTING SYSTEMS WERE FUNCTIONING ON THE NIGHT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD NOT HAD ANY NIGHT EXPERIENCE WITHIN THE PREVIOUS 90 DAYS ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S ACCIDENT REPORT FORM.
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: 460 hours in all; 9 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C89 Sturdevant WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,846 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.