Amateur-built JUNIOR ACE accident near Oshkosh, Wisconsin, August 2, 2009
On August 2, 2009 at about 6:53 pm local time, a amateur-built JUNIOR ACE, registered N413G, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Oshkosh, Wisconsin (Wittman Regional Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of a weld joint on the right rudder pedal leading to the loss of directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2009 · about 6:53 pm local time
- Place
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin · Wittman Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built JUNIOR ACE
- Registration
- N413G · registry record · serial 61-N
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a crosswind takeoff, a weld on a right rudder pedal failed in overload. The airplane subsequently ground looped.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Flight control sys malf/fail during takeoff defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,150 hours in all; 72 in this make and model; 245 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 10,736 as pilot in command; 890 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 98 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 24, 2009; 10 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotec R2800 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OSH Oshkosh WI at 6:53 pm
- Destination: C77 Poplar Grove IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 8,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 9 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from OSH
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.