Piper PA-31P accident near Woodruff, WI
On May 25, 2003, a Piper PA-31P (airplane) was involved in an accident near Woodruff, WI. 4 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 25, 2003
- Place
- Woodruff, WI
- Aircraft
- Piper PA-31P · Airplane
- Injuries
- 4 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 45.947°N, 89.736°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030603X00765
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 25, 2003, at 1754 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31P, N36DR, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain after takeoff from runway 36 (5,150 feet by 100 feet, asphalt), at the Lakeland Airport/Noble F. Lee Memorial Field (ARV), near Woodruff, Wisconsin. The airplane was consumed by fire subsequent to the impact. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions and an instrument rules flight plan had been filed but not activated. All four occupants of the airplane were fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The DuPage Airport (DPA), West Chicago, Illinois, was the intended destination. The airplane was reported to have been flown from DPA to ARV by the pilot and pilot rated passenger in order to pick up two passengers and return to DPA. The airplane impacted into level wooded terrain about 1/2 mile north of the departure end of the runway and left of the extended runway centerline. A witness who is a pilot reported seeing the airplane "hardly climbing at 60+- feet just above the [runway] 18 threshold. At this point he was making some power and no engine abnormalities or prop sounds were heard. The plane was very slow with a 5 [degree] pitch up then I saw the nose leveled and I knew he was in serious trouble. I saw the plane going straight for a few more seconds then lost sight. I listened as I ran to my truck. I then heard it hit the trees and impact." Another witness reported seeing the airplane take-off. He reported that the so
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to follow the before take-off checklist which led to an improper selection of the auxilliary fuel tanks for the takeoff leading to the subsequent fuel starvation of the left engine. Additional causes were the pilot not maintaining minimum controllable airspeed which resulted in a loss of control of the ariplane. The trees and the pilot's unsuccessful attempt to restart the engi
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Browse: Wisconsin · Piper aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
