| Crash location | 43.333334°N, 89.520834°W |
| Nearest city | Arlington, WI
43.335266°N, 89.413452°W 5.4 miles away |
| Tail number | N6803Z |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 03 Jul 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Piper Pa 25-235 |
| Additional details: | None |
On July 3, 2016, about 1650 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, N6803Z, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from runway 27 (2,500 feet by 50 feet, turf) at a private airstrip in Arlington, Wisconsin. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Kazs Flying Service, Ltd. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported that the airplane settled into a corn field about one-quarter mile west of the airstrip after takeoff. The airplane was operating at the maximum gross takeoff weight. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane preceding the accident. He informed a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that the engine was running "fine" and there were no flight control anomalies at the time of the accident.
Weather conditions at the Dane County Regional Airport, located about 13 miles south of the accident site, at 1653, included: wind from 090 degrees at 10 knots; temperature 24 degrees Celsius; dew point 11 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 30.01 inches of mercury. The preceding observation, at 1553, included: wind from 110 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 16 knots; temperature 25 degrees Celsius; dew point 12 degrees Celsius; and altimeter 30.03 inches of mercury. The associated density altitudes were about 2,117 feet and 2,219 feet, respectively.
The pilot noted that the airstrip was about 1,060 feet elevation and the prevailing wind was from the east (090 degrees) at 5 knots, with gusts to 18 knots. The temperature was about 30 degrees Celsius. Based on these conditions, the associated density altitude was about 3,020 feet.
The pilot’s failure to establish proper airspeed and angle-of-attack during takeoff with the airplane at its maximum gross weight in elevated density altitude and gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.