Amateur-built WAG-AERO accident near Hokah, Minnesota, July 24, 1995
On July 24, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built WAG-AERO, registered N642KW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hokah, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot performing low altitude flight and the failure to maintain clearance with the trees. A factors associated with the accident was the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Hokah, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built WAG-AERO
- Registration
- N642KW · registry record · serial 876
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING LOW IN A VALLEY. HE WAS UNABLE TO ACHIEVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES AT THE TOP EDGE OF THE VALLEY, WHICH WAS ABOUT 150 FEET OF ELEVATION CHANGE. HE STATED THE AIR TEMPERATURE AND LIGHT BREEZE CREATED A DOWNDRAFT AT THE TOP OF THE VALLEY WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE AIRPLANE'S INSUFFICIENT CLIMB AND AIRSPEED. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT HE DEMONSTRATED POOR JUDGMENT TO BE FLYING LOW IN A VALLEY.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,055 hours in all; 97 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 523 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1994; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C90-12F (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LSE Lacrosse WI at 5:40 pm
- Destination: CHU Caledonia MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.