Event CHI97LA005

Factual narrative

On October 8, 1996, at 1010 central daylight time (cdt), a Beech BE23, N2398Z, was destroyed when the airplane collided with a dump truck. The aircraft was attempting to land on runway 36 at the Brennand Airport, Neenah, Wisconsin, when the accident occurred. The air transport rated pilot sustained minor injuries in the accident. The driver of the dump truck was uninjured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported in a written statement included with the NTSB form 6120.1/2, that he was approaching to land on runway 36 at the Brennand Airport. The pilot reported that the final approach path requires an approximate altitude of 10 to 15 feet when crossing the road. The pilot reported that during the final approach he noticed a car, and a red dump truck coming down the road. To miss the dump truck, the pilot reported that he slowed the airplane. The pilot reported that the dump truck passed in front of the airplane, and he focused on his touchdown point. Following the first dump truck was a second grey and red dump truck. The left main gear tire of N2398Z contacted the upper portion of the dump box above the cab of the dump truck. The pilot reported that just west of the airport there was a tree line and a cornfield near the road. It was reported by the pilot that a lightly colored vehicle in this area would be very difficult to see during final approach to the runway. The distance from the edge of the runway to the road was reported by the pilot as approximately 180 feet. 200 feet is the recommended obstacle free zone as defined in AC 150/5300-13 CHG4. The latest Wisconsin Department of Transportation survey of the airport reported the road height as two feet higher elevation than the runway end. A three degree angle projection from the end of the runway to the near edge of the road, would give a road crossing height of 7.4 feet, at this point. The height of the dump truck was approximated by local law enforcement personal as 10 feet. Low flying aircraft warning signs have been purchased by the local community for placement along the roadway, but as of October 29, 1996, the signs have not been erected. A witness who saw the aircraft on final approach reported that "It appeared to me that he was on a proper glide path for landing the plane." The airplane's left wing outboard of the left main gear tire separated from the airplane. The tail of the fuselage separated just aft of the baggage compartment. The left main gear tire of the aircraft was wedged between the cab and the dump box of the dump truck. During final approach the pilot slowed the airplane to avoid a red dump truck coming down the road. Following the first dump truck was a second grey and red dump truck. The left main gear tire of the airplane contacted the second dump truck. West of the airport there was a tree line and a cornfield near the road, where a lightly colored vehicle would be very difficult to see during final approach to the runway. The runway obstacle free zone was shorter than the recommended length. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12