Piper PA-46-310P accident near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, February 15, 1995
On February 15, 1995 at about 4:50 am local time, a Piper PA-46-310P, registered N9YP, was destroyed in an accident near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (Chippewa Valley Regional airport). It was a business flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper decision to depart into known adverse weather conditions, and the subsequent encounter with freezing drizzle, resulting in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain during an approach to land. Also causal to the accident was the pilot's failure to adhere to the airplane's weight and balance limitations, resulting in an overweight and out of balance flight condition, and his failure to comply with published procedures for flight into icing conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 15, 1995 · about 4:50 am local time
- Place
- Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin · Chippewa Valley Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-46-310P · all PA-46-310Ps on the register
- Registration
- N9YP · no longer on the register · serial 4608043
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE DEPARTED WITH TWO PILOTS, TWO PASSENGERS, BAGGAGE AND EQUIPMENT. AT TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE WAS 955 POUNDS OVER THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS WEIGHT, AND 2 INCHES BEYOND THE AFT C.G. LIMIT. AFTER 4 HOURS OF FLYING, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DIVERT TO ANOTHER AIRPORT, DUE TO ICING CONDITIONS. DURING THE DESCENDING LEFT TURN FROM BASE LEG TO FINAL APPROACH TO RUNWAY 22, THE AIRPLANE DROPPED, STRUCK THE GROUND, AND SLID 250 FEET. THE WINGS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE DURING THE GROUND SLIDE BY TWO TREES. A SATISFACTORY POSTACCIDENT ENGINE RUN WAS COMPLETED. THE AIRPLANE WAS CALCULATED TO BE ABOUT 600 POUNDS OVER THE MAXIMUM LANDING WEIGHT, AND 2 INCHES BEYOND THE AFT C.G. LIMIT. THE AIR INDUCTION LEVER WAS IN THE PRIMARY POSITION, AND NOT THE REQUIRED ALTERNATE POSITION FOR ICING CONDITIONS. THE PROPELLER AND STALL WARNING HEAT SWITCHES WERE OFF. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN FLYING IN LIGHT FREEZING RAIN, WHICH THE POH STATED SHOULD BE AVOIDED. SEVERE MIXED ICING WAS REPORTED 25 MILES NORTHWEST OF THE AIRPORT. WINDS AT THE AIRPORT WERE FROM 150 DEGREES AT 10 KNOTS, GUSTING TO 16 KNOTS.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,248 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1994; 128 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,100 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520-BE (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ITH Ithica NY
- Destination: EAU WI
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 22
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 am from EAU, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.