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Casualties unknown

Pilot Flies into Marsh Near Fond du Lac Airport After Ignoring VFR Not Recommended Warnings (N161FS)

Fond DU Lac, WI, US

On November 11, 1995, a Piper PA-28-151 (registration N161FS) was involved in an aviation accident near Fond DU Lac, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude. Factors included the weather obscuration due to snow and fog, the dark night, and the pilot's lack of recent night flight time. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot who obtained weather briefings advising VFR flight not recommended activated his VFR flight plan and later flew into a marsh about 3.8 miles from Fond du Lac Airport. Witness reported low visibility and strong winds.

Incident Overview

A pilot operating under visual flight rules (VFR) flew his airplane into a marsh approximately 3.8 nautical miles from Fond du Lac Airport, according to an official investigation. The aircraft impacted terrain on a heading of about 300 degrees from the airport.

Pre-Flight Activities

The pilot obtained two weather briefings earlier in the day: one at 1118 CST and another at 1718 CST. In both briefings, he was advised that VFR flight was not recommended. Despite this, he activated his VFR flight plan at 1839 CST and made no further radio contacts afterward.

Pilot Experience

Records show the pilot had accumulated a total of 2.8 hours of night flying experience during the preceding nine months.

Witness Account

A local witness provided a detailed account of the weather conditions at the time of the accident. At 2130 CST, there was a "slight covering of snow but not real windy." However, by 2230 CST, conditions had deteriorated significantly. The witness reported: "...wind was howling. Visibility was very low. Could hardly see the yard light 150 feet away. Winds were strong, 25 to 30 miles per hour. Snowing pretty good. Light pole was blurred. 35 feet tall...."

Accident Location

The airplane came to rest in a marsh. The specific location was measured as 3.8 nautical miles from Fond du Lac Airport on a bearing of 300 degrees.

Investigation

No probable cause has been stated in the source material.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 11 Nov 1995 Piper PA-28-151 accident near Fond DU Lac, WI?

A pilot who obtained weather briefings advising VFR flight not recommended activated his VFR flight plan and later flew into a marsh about 3.8 miles from Fond du Lac Airport. Witness reported low visibility and strong winds.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 11 Nov 1995 involved a Piper PA-28-151, registration N161FS, at Fond DU Lac, WI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

the pilot's intentional VFR flight into instrument meteorological conditions, and his failure to maintain altitude. Factors included the weather obscuration due to snow and fog, the dark night, and the pilot's lack of recent night flight time.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001207X04819. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.