Piper PA-28-180 accident near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, August 5, 1999
On August 5, 1999 at about 7:15 pm local time, a Piper PA-28-180, registered N4337X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (Grand Geneva Resort Arpt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the aborted takeoff not performed by the safety-pilot and airspeed not obtained/maintained by the safety-pilot. Factors to the accident were directional control and runway alignment not maintained by the pilot-in-command, the inadequate supervision of the safety-pilot, the tree line, altitude/clearance not obtained/maintained by the safety-pilot, the aircraft weight and balance exceeded by the pilot-in-command, and the encountered stall by the safety-pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 5, 1999 · about 7:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin · Grand Geneva Resort Arpt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 3 people were seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-28-180 · all PA-28-180s on the register
- Registration
- N4337X · no longer on the register · serial 28-7505257
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot-in-command was attempting a simulated zero-visibility takeoff by utilizing visibility-reducing goggles and a predetermined safety-pilot. On the takeoff roll the airplane departed the left side of the runway and the pilot-in-command relinquished aircraft control to the safety-pilot. The safety-pilot continued the takeoff, off to the left side of the runway, and during initial climb contacted the top of a tree line. Subsequent to the collision with the tree line, the aircraft stalled and entered a spin impacting the ground. No mechanical anomalies were found with the airplane or its engine. The reported useful load for the airplane was listed at 935.34 lbs and the actual aircraft load was calculated to be approximately 992 lbs and was found to be outside the weight and balance envelope found in the aircraft's operating manual.
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: 195 hours in all; 135 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,123 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 17, 1998; 130 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,175 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C02 at 7:15 pm
- Destination: MSN Madison WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 23, 3,820 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from ENW, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.