Beech F33A accident near Delavan, Wisconsin, July 25, 1998
On July 25, 1998 at about 7:35 pm local time, a Beech F33A, registered N350NW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Delavan, Wisconsin (Lakelawn Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the takeoff roll. Factors contributing to this accident were the pilot's inadequate preflight, his operation of an airplane with a known deficiency, low air pressure on both main tires, the snow fence, and the corn.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 25, 1998 · about 7:35 pm local time
- Place
- Delavan, Wisconsin · Lakelawn Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Beech F33A · all F33As on the register
- Registration
- N350NW · registry record · serial CE-753
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot added full power and began his takeoff roll. Within 150 feet of where the airplane began its roll, the airplane 'veered sharply to the left, although full right rudder was applied.' The pilot said that he had no steering control. A witness observed the airplane roll forward normally for about two to three seconds, then the nose started rotating upward. Immediately, the airplane veered sharply left and continued off of the runway and on to the grass. The airplane's engine was at full power until the ground impact occurred. Prior to the accident, when the airplane was being taxied to the runway, another witness flagged down the pilot and informed him that the airplane's left tire 'appeared to be low on air.' The witness offered to assist the pilot with inflating the tire, but the pilot elected to taxi to the runway instead. Examination of the airplane revealed the left main landing gear tire pressure at 22 psi. The right main landing gear tire pressure was 26 psi. The Beech F33A Pilot Operating Handbook states that normal tire pressure for the main landing gear tires should be in a range of 33 to 40 psi.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,861 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,991 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 23, 1998; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C59 at 7:35 pm
- Destination: IGQ Lansing IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,423 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from JVL, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N350NW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.