Amateur-built SKY-BUGGY accident near Princeton, Wisconsin, August 20, 1995
On August 20, 1995 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SKY-BUGGY, registered N16626, was destroyed in an accident near Princeton, Wisconsin (Bed-Ah-Wick Field). 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 loss of engine power due to the blocked float valve seat in the carburetor and the pilot's failure to have the proper maintenance inspection performed on the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 1995 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Princeton, Wisconsin · Bed-Ah-Wick Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SKY-BUGGY
- Registration
- N16626 · no longer on the register · serial 1001
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND AFTER TAKING OFF, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE RPM AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. AFTER REALIZING THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A MARSH. THE CARBURETOR WAS DISASSEMBLED AND REVEALED THE FLOAT VALVE SEAT WAS PARTIALLY BLOCKED. THE LAST INSPECTION WAS A PRECOVER INSPECTION PERFORMED IN 1972, AFTER THE AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED. NO OTHER INSPECTIONS WERE PERFORMED ON THE AIRPLANE. N16626 DID NOT HAVE A CURRENT AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. TOTAL TIME ON THE AIRPLANE WAS 6 HOURS.
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: 900 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 1500 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1WI3 at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,600 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 57°F (14°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.