Amateur-built ACROSPORT RJ-2 accident near Campbellsport, Wisconsin, August 14, 1999
On August 14, 1999 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built ACROSPORT RJ-2, registered N42J, was destroyed in an accident near Campbellsport, Wisconsin (Kettle Moraine Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control during initial climb for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1999 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Campbellsport, Wisconsin · Kettle Moraine Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ACROSPORT RJ-2 ACROSPORT
- Registration
- N42J · registry record · serial 2
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness stated the airplane was taking off to the northeast, the '...engine sound indicated normal take-off power,' and the airplane '...pitched-up steeply.' The airplane's pitch '...went to vertical', the airplane's speed dissipated, and the airplane pitched '...down through [the] horizon.' He stated that the airplane rolled and turned approximately 270 degrees, went behind trees, and an '...impact thud was heard.' Another witness said the airplane did not '...get more than 400 feet off the ground.' The witness said the airplane '...looked like he was going to turn upside down, and he did turn upside down for awhile.' She said she saw the airplane's propeller turning in the air and the airplane '...seemed to just shoot right down to the ground.' The witness said, '...as soon as it hit the ground it burst into flames.' An on-scene inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-impact anomalies.
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: 506 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,520 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 56C WI at 11:30 pm
- Destination: ETB West Bend WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:38 pm from ETB, 15 miles away
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.