Nerstrom-Tailwind W-8 N12038

Summary

On 20 January 1998 at about 17:07 local time, a Nerstrom-Tailwind W-8 registered N12038 was involved in an accident near Lodi, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 January 1998 at 17:07

Classification

Accident

Location

Lodi, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

43.3091, -89.5298

Aircraft

Nerstrom-Tailwind W-8

Registration

N12038

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Baraboo → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI98LA083

1 person had minor injuries.

the pilot's failure to maintain a proper altitude due to the whiteout conditions. Factors associated with the accident were the low pass performed by the pilot and the visual illusion created by the whiteout conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot said he was observing the airplane's shadow as he made a low pass over a snow covered frozen lake at 50 feet. He said he went under a cloud, lost his shadow, and encountered whiteout conditions. The pilot said he could not tell where the lake's surface was because he could no longer see his shadow. He pulled up to gain altitude, but the main landing gear contacted the ice, shearing them off. The wing struts overloaded and broke off on the subsequent bounce. Several publications on winter flying describe whiteout conditions. One book describes the pilots encounter as 'overcast whiteout.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.