Piper PA-28-160 accident near Viroqua, Wisconsin, June 9, 1995
On June 9, 1995 at about 8:20 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-160, registered N5762W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Viroqua, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 1995 · about 8:20 pm local time
- Place
- Viroqua, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-160 · all PA-28-160s on the register
- Registration
- N5762W · no longer on the register · serial 28-1544
- 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 TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND PERFORMED AN ENGINE RUNUP. THE PILOT STATED ALL INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. THE AIRPLANE TOOK OFF AND STARTED TO CLIMB. THE PILOT STATED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS AND VIBRATE. HE IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED THE SELECTED FUEL TANK, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRPLANE 180 DEGREES IN AN ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. WHILE TURNING THE AIRPLANE CONTACTED TRANSMISSION WIRES AND IMPACTED THE GROUND. A POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ABNORMALITIES.
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: 2,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,198 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 13, 1994; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A3A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Y51 at 8:20 pm
- Destination: C35 Reedsburg WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- 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 |
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.