14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, October 17, 2012 in Wausau, WI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/07/2014
Aircraft: BEECH A36, registration: N121VP
Injuries: 1 Serious.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The pilot reported that, during the instrument landing system approach, the destination airport’s weather system was reporting conditions below approach minimums. However, he chose to attempt the approach and, if necessary, execute a missed approach and hold until conditions improved. He stated that he usually set the decision altitude and lowered the landing gear at the final approach fix and that he thought that he had accomplished this on the accident approach; however, he stated that he did not remember hearing the decision altitude aural warning. He added that, when he was preparing the airplane for a missed approach, he saw the hills and trees, which the airplane then impacted. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's decision to attempt an instrument approach in meteorological conditions below approach minimums and his failure to properly execute a missed approach.
On October 17, 2012, about 0800 central daylight time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N121VP, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain short of the runway during an instrument approach to runway 12 at the Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), Wausau, Wisconsin. The pilot received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a business flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from The Waukesha County Airport (UES), Waukesha, Wisconsin, about 0720.
The pilot reported that as he neared AUW, the airport automated weather observing system was reporting conditions that were below approach minimums. He stated that he thought the early morning fog would be clearing, decided to attempt the approach, and if necessary perform a missed approach and hold until conditions improved. His written report indicated that he attempted an instrument landing system approach to runway 12. As he descended there was considerable glare reflecting off the tops of the low cloud layer below.
Once he had descended into the clouds it became very dark and very turbulent. He stated that his usual practice was to set the decision altitude (DA) and lower the landing gear at the final approach fix. He stated that he believed that he accomplished this on the accident approach. He stated that he did not remember hearing the aural DA warning. He decided to execute a missed approach and began to configure the airplane. He then saw the hills and trees immediately prior to impact.
In his written report, the pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. No mention was made regarding instrumentation failure or anomalies related to the instrumentation or avionics within the airplane.
http://registry.faa.gov/N121VP
NTSB Identification: CEN13LA016
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, October 17, 2012 in Wausau, WI
Aircraft: BEECH A36, registration: N121VP
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On October 17, 2012, about 0800 central daylight time, a Beech model A36 airplane, N121VP, sustained substantial damage when it impacted trees and terrain short of the runway during an instrument approach to runway 12 at the Wausau Downtown Airport (AUW), Wausau, Wisconsin. The pilot received serious injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated on an instrument flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from The Waukesha County Airport (UES), Waukesha, Wisconsin, about 0720.
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A man injured in a plane crash Wednesday morning at the Wausau Downtown Airport has been transfered to another hospital, an Aspirus Wausau Hospital spokesman said this morning.
Randall C. Pack, 62, of Muskego was listed in serious condition at Aspirus Wausau Hospital on Wednesday. Pack suffered non-life threatening injuries in the crash, according to the Wausau Police Department.
Airport manager John Chmiel said the pilot was the only person aboard the plane at the time of the crash. Chmiel described the plane as a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza that was headed to Wausau from the southeastern part of the state. The plane was scheduled for an 8:21 a.m. landing in Wausau and crashed on approach to the airport, Chmiel said.
Chmiel said the plane was on an instrument-led approach because of weather conditions and estimated the crash occurred between 8:10 and 8:20 a.m. The National Weather Service reported fog and mist with easterly winds at 6 mph and limited visibility at the airport at the time of the crash.
Angela Chmiel, part of the management team at the airport, said the airport was fully staffed at the time of the crash, and the pilot did not indicate a problem.
“We had no indication whatsoever,” Angela Chmiel said. “We just don’t know what happened, or how it happened. Hopefully, the pilot will be able to communicate that to investigators.”
Tony Molinaro, a spokesman for the FAA, said investigators arrived at the site of the crash Wednesday afternoon. He said more information might be available Thursday at the earliest.
The incident is the 27th aviation crash in the state this year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board website. There has been one fatality so far this year in Wisconsin. Before Thursday, single-engine Beechcraft planes have been involved in two crashes nationwide so far this year, neither of them in Wisconsin.
There have been few crashes in recent years at the airport. A pilot was uninjured April 21 when his biplane crashed into Lake Wausau as he approached the airport runway.
John Chmiel said rescue crews were called immediately after the crash, and airport personnel also called the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA. He said crashes, though rare, are difficult for fellow pilots and airport staff to deal with.
“It’s been just a really rough day. Thankfully, this kind of thing doesn’t happen often,” Chmiel said.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com
A squad car from the Wausau Police Department sits at the west end of the Wausau Downtown Airport, where a single engine plane crashed Thursday morning, Oct. 17, 2012 on approach to the airport. / T'Xer Zhon Kha/Wausau Daily Herald
One man remains hospitalized after a plane crash Wednesday morning at the Wausau Downtown Airport.
Randall
C. Pack, 62, of Muskego was listed in serious condition at Aspirus
Wausau Hospital on Wednesday. Airport manager John Chmiel said the pilot
was the only person aboard the plane at the time of the crash.
Chmiel described the plane as a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza that was headed to Wausau from the southeastern part of the state. The plane was scheduled for an 8:21 a.m. landing in Wausau and crashed on approach to the airport, Chmiel said.
Chmiel said the plane was on an instrument-led approach because of weather conditions and estimated the crash occurred between 8:10 and 8:20 a.m. The National Weather Service reported fog and mist with easterly winds at 6 mph and limited visibility at the airport at the time of the crash.
Angela Chmiel, part of the management team at the airport, said the airport was fully staffed at the time of the crash, and the pilot did not indicate a problem.
“We had no indication whatsoever,” Angela Chmiel said. “We just don’t know what happened, or how it happened. Hopefully, the pilot will be able to communicate that to investigators.”
Tony Molinaro, a spokesman for the FAA, said investigators arrived at the site of the crash Wednesday afternoon. He said more information might be available Thursday at the earliest.
The incident is the 27th aviation crash in the state this year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board website. There has been one fatality so far this year in Wisconsin. Before Thursday, single-engine Beechcraft planes have been involved in two crashes nationwide so far this year, neither of them in Wisconsin.
There have been few crashes in recent years at the airport. A pilot was uninjured April 21 when his biplane crashed into Lake Wausau as he approached the airport runway.
John Chmiel said rescue crews were called immediately after the crash, and airport personnel also called the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA. He said crashes, though rare, are difficult for fellow pilots and airport staff to deal with.
“It’s been just a really rough day. Thankfully, this kind of thing doesn’t happen often,” Chmiel said.
Chmiel described the plane as a single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza that was headed to Wausau from the southeastern part of the state. The plane was scheduled for an 8:21 a.m. landing in Wausau and crashed on approach to the airport, Chmiel said.
Chmiel said the plane was on an instrument-led approach because of weather conditions and estimated the crash occurred between 8:10 and 8:20 a.m. The National Weather Service reported fog and mist with easterly winds at 6 mph and limited visibility at the airport at the time of the crash.
Angela Chmiel, part of the management team at the airport, said the airport was fully staffed at the time of the crash, and the pilot did not indicate a problem.
“We had no indication whatsoever,” Angela Chmiel said. “We just don’t know what happened, or how it happened. Hopefully, the pilot will be able to communicate that to investigators.”
Tony Molinaro, a spokesman for the FAA, said investigators arrived at the site of the crash Wednesday afternoon. He said more information might be available Thursday at the earliest.
The incident is the 27th aviation crash in the state this year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board website. There has been one fatality so far this year in Wisconsin. Before Thursday, single-engine Beechcraft planes have been involved in two crashes nationwide so far this year, neither of them in Wisconsin.
There have been few crashes in recent years at the airport. A pilot was uninjured April 21 when his biplane crashed into Lake Wausau as he approached the airport runway.
John Chmiel said rescue crews were called immediately after the crash, and airport personnel also called the National Transportation Safety Board and FAA. He said crashes, though rare, are difficult for fellow pilots and airport staff to deal with.
“It’s been just a really rough day. Thankfully, this kind of thing doesn’t happen often,” Chmiel said.
Authorities have confirmed a six-seat plane crashed this morning on the west end of the Wausau Downtown Airport.
The
male pilot was taken by ambulance to Aspirus Wausau Hospital with
unknown injuries. Airport manager John Chmiel confirmed the pilot was
the only person aboard the plane at the time of the crash.
Chmiel
described the plane as a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza that was
headed to Wausau from the southeastern part of the state. The plane was
scheduled for an 8:21 a.m. landing in Wausau, and crashed on approach to
the airport, Chmiel said.
Chmiel
said the plane was on an instrument-led approach because of weather
conditions and estimated the crash occurred between 8:10 and 8:20 a.m.
The National Weather Service reported fog and mist with easterly winds
at 6 mph and limited visibility at the airport at the time of the crash.
Wausau
Deputy Fire Chief Phil Rentmeester said investigators from the Federal
Aviation Administration are expected to arrive on scene at 2 p.m. today.
> Chmiel declined to release the tail number of the airplane until the family of the pilot is notified, and said further information would only be released by the FAA.
The accident is the 27th aviation crash in the state this year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board website. There has been one fatality so far this year in Wisconsin. Before Thursday, single engine Beechcraft planes have been involved in two accidents nationwide so far this year, neither of them in Wisconsin.
> Chmiel declined to release the tail number of the airplane until the family of the pilot is notified, and said further information would only be released by the FAA.
The accident is the 27th aviation crash in the state this year, according to the National Transportation Safety Board website. There has been one fatality so far this year in Wisconsin. Before Thursday, single engine Beechcraft planes have been involved in two accidents nationwide so far this year, neither of them in Wisconsin.
Authorities have confirmed a six-seat plane crashed this morning on the west end of the Wausau Downtown Airport.
One
person is confirmed injured and that person has been transported to
Aspirus Wausau Hospital. The severity of the person’s injuries are not
known.
Wausau Deputy Fire Chief Phil Rentmeester said the plane crash was reported at about 9:30 a.m.
Authorities will not say how many people were on the plane at the time of the crash. Details of the cause of the crash were not immediately available.
Emergency responders are on the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to arrive on scene at 2 p.m. today.
Wausau Deputy Fire Chief Phil Rentmeester said the plane crash was reported at about 9:30 a.m.
Authorities will not say how many people were on the plane at the time of the crash. Details of the cause of the crash were not immediately available.
Emergency responders are on the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration is expected to arrive on scene at 2 p.m. today.
Wausau (WAOW) - One man
was injured after a plane crash just before 8:30 a.m. Wednesday,
according to Wausau Downtown Airport Manager John Chmiel.
Chmiel says that the crash happened at 8:21 a.m. outside the fenced-in area near Wausau Downtown Airport.
The pilot was approaching the airport from the south. Weather conditions may have been a factor in the crash but it is still too early to tell, Chmiel said.
The pilot was the only person on board, according to Chmiel. He was taken to Aspirus Hospital with unknown injuries.
The FAA is expected to be on scene investigating at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Emergency workers removed a portion of a fence to access the plane that was about 100 feet from shore.
The pilot was approaching the airport from the south. Weather conditions may have been a factor in the crash but it is still too early to tell, Chmiel said.
The pilot was the only person on board, according to Chmiel. He was taken to Aspirus Hospital with unknown injuries.
The FAA is expected to be on scene investigating at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
Emergency workers removed a portion of a fence to access the plane that was about 100 feet from shore.
