Piper PA-34-220T accident near Schofield, Wisconsin, September 26, 1998
On September 26, 1998 at about 2:20 am local time, a Piper PA-34-220T, registered N900JH, was substantially damaged in an accident near Schofield, Wisconsin (Wausau Downtown Airport). It was a flight of an unrecorded kind under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 4 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadvertent deactivation of the fuel selector and the emergency procedure not followed by the pilot-in-command. The tree was a contributing factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 26, 1998 · about 2:20 am local time
- Place
- Schofield, Wisconsin · Wausau Downtown Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 4 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-34-220T · all PA-34-220Ts on the register
- Registration
- N900JH · registry record · serial 34-8233095
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The left engine experienced a total loss of engine power during initial climb out from Runway 22 at Wausau Downtown Airport, Wausau, Wisconsin. The pilot reported he moved his flight bag from between the seats. The pilot stated that upon reaching the approach end of Runway 22, he had completed his abbreviated preflight checklist, which included an engine run up, magnetos, propellers, instruments and controls. The pilot reported that at the end of the runway, he pushed his flight bag between the front seats. The bag was described by the pilot as a canvas attache case with outside pockets and a strap. The throttle, propeller and mixture controls were found in their forward positions. Engine control continuity was established. The left engine propeller was not feathered and the landing gear was in the down position. Both fuel selectors, which are located between the pilot's and copilot's seats, were in the crossfeed position. The left engine from the aircraft was run on a test stand and was found to operate. There were no obstructions in the fuel lines or fuel filter screens.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,624 hours in all; 571 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 2,424 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,821 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 2, 1998; 22 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-360KB (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AUW Wausau WI at 2:45 am
- Destination: MSN Madison WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22, 3,085 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 200° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:45 am from AUW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CHI98LA367.