Piper PA-32R-300 N4070Q

Summary

On 19 August 1990 at about 03:00 local time, a Piper PA-32R-300 registered N4070Q, operated by Wisconsin Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Watertown, Wisconsin, United States. 7 people were on board and 7 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 August 1990 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Watertown, Wisconsin, United States

Nearest airport

Watertown Muni (RYV)

Coordinates

43.1902, -88.7195

Aircraft

Piper PA-32R-300

Registration

N4070Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wisconsin Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

IMC

Light

Night/Dark

NTSB number

CHI90FA236

7 people died.

INITIATION OF VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER AND INSTRUMENT METEOROLOGIAL CONDITIONS. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND THE PILOT'S SELF-INDUCED PRESSURE TO MAINTAIN CURRENCY.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN APPROX 1/2 MI SOUTH OF THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT AFTER A NIGHT TAKEOFF. A POLICE OFFICER OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE TAXI TO THE RUNWAY; HE DID NOT SEE THE AIRPLANE TAKE OFF. HE DESCRIBED THE WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE TIME AS HEAVY RAIN WITH LIGHTNING AND THUNDER, AND HIGH WINDS. A PASSENGER IN AN AUTOMOBILE ON A HIGHWAY 1500 FT WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE REPORTED WHAT SHE THOUGHT TO BE A 'SHOOTING STAR'. SHE STATED THEY WERE DRIVING SLOWER THAN NORMAL BECAUSE OF HEAVY RAIN. THE PILOT STATED TO FAMILY MEMBERS THAT HE HAD TO FLY AND DO THREE TAKEOFFS AND LANDINGS BEFORE MIDNIGHT OR HE WOULD LOSE HIS LICENSE. HIS LAST FLIGHT WAS 92 DAYS (EXACTLY 3 CALENDAR MONTHS) BEFORE THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.