On October 15, 1982, a Luscombe 8A (registration N1094K) operated by Daniel T. Wellace was involved in an aviation accident near Delavan, WI. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft crashed in a corn field after returning from a 45-minute flight, making a low pass over the runway, and entering a steep bank during a left turn.
Incident Overview
According to the airport manager, an aircraft had been flying for approximately 45 minutes before returning to the airport. The manager reported that the pilot executed a low pass over the runway, appearing to check the wind conditions for landing. The manager then observed the pilot initiate a climb and enter a left turn, but did not witness the subsequent crash.
Witness Accounts
Two additional witnesses also saw the aircraft begin to climb and turn. One of them reported seeing the plane enter a steep bank, after which it suddenly went straight down. The aircraft impacted the ground nose-down in a corn field.